George, I'm sure I've heard bicycle riders admonished by traffic-control people that they are riding a VEHICLE, not a toy. You're right: legislative language regarding bicycles needs to be clarified. I believe American society is coming into a new stage in people transport. You are ahead of your time, as many of our friends are.. ....And to think that I let go a nice three-speed lightweight Austrian bicycle in Atlanta when I learned that I could no longer use it. Sigh.
Sally Gagnon At 05:44 PM 6/30/08 -0700, you wrote: >I went to the New york State website: >http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi?COMMONQUERY=LAWS > >and found the following definitions in the Vehicle and Traffic Law. New >York's definition for bicycle excludes motorized bikes. > >Further down though is a definition for "Limited use mortorcycle." Is >this the source of the Catch 22 - the state distinguishing bike with >motors, then not providong for any mechanism to license or insure them? > >George Frantz > >VAT - Vehicle and Traffic >Article 1 - Words and phrases defined. > > >§ 102. Bicycle. Every two or three wheeled device upon which a person or >persons may ride, propelled by human power through a belt, a chain or >gears, with such wheels in a tandem or tricycle, except that it shall not >include such a device having solid tires and intended for use only on a >sidewalk by pre-teenage children. > >§ 121-b. Limited use motorcycle. A limited use vehicle having only two or >three wheels, with a seat or saddle for the operator. A limited use >motorcycle having a maximum performance speed, of more than thirty miles >per hour but not more than forty miles per hour shall be a class A limited >use motorcycle. A limited use motorcycle having a maximum performance >speed of more than twenty miles per hour but not more than thirty miles >per hour, shall be a class B limited use motorcycle. A limited use >motorcycle having a maximum performance speed of not more than twenty >miles per hour shall be a class C limited use motorcycle. > >§ 123. Motorcycle. Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use >of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in >contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor. > >§ 159. Vehicle. Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property >is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices moved by >human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. > > > > > > > > >On Thu, Jun 26, 2008 at 7:22 PM, Tim Joseph <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > >David, > >I live at Longhouse Cooperative, right next to you, and had a similar >experience. I wanted to bike for years, but couldn't face the hills as a >daily commute. Then I got a bike with a motor and spent the next two >years bike-commuting. Mine is a small, 4 cycle, gas engine. Not as green >as electric, but I calculate I get about 100 miles per gallon and was only >using the motor for about a quarter of the biking time. The gas motor has >a bit more power than any electric I've seen, which helps with the section >of Elm St. right above where you probably turn. It wasn't a real choice >though, just what I happened to come across. I too have spread the word >and know of at least one person who bought an electric bike as a result. > >However, you should know that these bikes are illegal on NY >roads. Anything with a motor must be licensed and insured. But these >bikes cannot be licensed or insured. Catch 22. The odds of you actually >being ticketed are pretty slim, but because of where I work, I can no >longer bike-commute. And even though the chances of someone stopping you >are pretty low, the penalties for unlicensed, uninsured operation of a >motor vehicle are pretty severe. Sooner or later someone will get slammed. > >We should be pushing for a change in the law that recognizes the reality >of power boosted bicycles. Some states and other countries define a >category of motor assisted bicycles, with a limit on either power or >speed, and define them as bicycles, not motor vehicles. It's time for NY >to do the same. > >Tim > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >[email protected] >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
