Rajflyboy

Just got back from Daytona (motorcycle bike week)

I was shocked to see so many E bicycles rolling around Daytona and also up and down the area beaches and roads. Lots of young and old alike enjoying good times on a bicycle.

This E bike thing must be growing faster than I had realized.

Bigbus

I've been seeing more of them on the roads here too. Mostly in the resort areas along the coast and mostly elderly people that need the extra oomph.

Rajflyboy

Hopefully it truly is helping more people ride who maybe thought they could not ride before the e bicycle came along.

themp

Yesterday I saw three on the MUP. Older couple with their daughter who pulled her daughter in a child trailer. They had these:

https://www.greenbikeusa.com/products/gb750mag

The couple had an RV, so the folding feature was a requirement for storage. They had just gone around 18 miles on a pretty good grade higher and their batteries were down to 80%. My take away was that they would not have been able to do this on a non-electric bicycle. So, the electric bicycle has opened up cycling for more people. I also said to myself that when I get to the point(old age) where pedaling is a problem, the electric bicycle might be an option.

veganbikes

E-bikes are a huge growing segment of the market and those who haven't tried them or at least haven't tried anything of quality and are hating are just deciding to go completely in reverse until the transmission blows and they are stuck. E-bikes are awesome for so many different reasons and I know a lot of folks who wouldn't be on a bike if it weren't for e-bikes for a whole host of reasons.

alloo

I ride an ebike to and from work. I usually ride below the speed limit. Some riders get aggravated, that's on them not me.

HerrKaLeun

There is a recent pandemic of what looks like Amazon ebikes. Sort of 24" fatbikes, and what looks like 16" bikes with adults. Often riding on the road with throttle in a manic manner. Or fast on bikepaths without anouncing themselves. I have to get used to look more behind me before oassing someone. One isn't used to 25mph or faster bikes on MUPs

I guess the DUI crowd found a means of transportation. Won't be long before kids and others get hurt.

I avoid roads to survive, and now ebikes ruin bike paths as well. Last year I didn't care about ebikes and thought more butts on bikes is good. But seeing this menace makes me rethink.

Darth Lefty 

Would you call it an epidemic, a pandemic, or endemic?

Flip Flop Rider

see a lot more motorized skateboards too. not sure if this is a good thing, but it's progress I guess

indyfabz

There is an E-Bike forum for that.

Flip Flop Rider

I guess everything has a motor on it these days

indyfabz

Fixed.

GeezyRider 

Not sure I'll ever buy one but KevCentral makes fat tire ebikes look like a lot of fun.

burnthesheep

A pan flat beach town? Why not just go back old-school and cruise in the golf cart instead?

Even in a wind, takes like all of 50w to leisurely explore a flat beach town.

livedarklions

Every statistic I know of indicates that the more cyclists, the safer we are, so I welcome it just out of self-interest. Also, I like it that it allows people to ride that otherwise couldn't.

All I ask is that the bike lanes and paths don't get inundated with motorized bikes that are substantially faster and heavier than pedaled bikes.

Flip Flop Rider

lol, just did a double take!

livedarklions

I think E-Bile would be a better name for a music genre.

Bigbus

By government standards, anything with a motor is considered motorized and that includes ebikes. So if the sign says no motorized vehicles I shouldn't have to worry about them, Right?

Sy Reene

I assume part of this is the implication that as long as the increase in cyclists isn't coming out of the volume of pedestrians... and on roads. More cyclists on MUPs vs non-cyclists can't be safer.

MNebiker

This varies from state to state and even within local boundaries. The following is from the MN Bicycle Handbook:

3. What is an electric-assisted bicycle and where can I use one?
Minnesota Statute 169.011, Subdivision 27:
“Electric-assisted bicycle” means a bicycle with two or three wheels that:
(1) has a saddle and fully operable pedals for human propulsion;
(2) meets the requirements:
(i) of federal motor vehicle safety standards for a motor-driven cycle in Code of
Federal Regulations, title 49, sections 571.1 et seq.; or
(ii) for bicycles under Code of Federal Regulations, title 16, part 1512, or successor
requirements; and
(3) has an electric motor that (i) has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts, (ii)
is incapable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, (iii) is
incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power alone is used
to propel the vehicle at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, and (iv) disengages or
ceases to function when the vehicle’s brakes are applied.
Minnesota Statute 169.011, Subdivision 47:
An electric-assisted bicycle with pedals and a motor that can’t go faster than 20 mph is
considered a bicycle under state law; all relevant bicycle laws apply.
Minnesota Statute 169.222, Subdivision 6(b)
The driver of an electric-assisted bicycle must be at least 15 years old.
Minnesota Statute 85.015, Subdivision 1(d) and Statute 85.018, Subdivision 2(d):
Generally electric-assisted bicycles may operate like bicycles do, unless otherwise posted.

In MN the high-powered go-fast ebikes are not considered bikes. I'm not sure how they are handled legally, but maybe MNDOT would have the answers. From what I have read an ebike that meets the MN standards can be used wherever a standard bike is allowed, unless a local rule prohibits them. I believe the "government standard" you refer to is probably a Federal standard, and I have heard that ebikes have been prohibited on some national park trails. But I have also read that they are allowed wherever a motor vehicle is allowed in some parks.

Either way, ebikes are growing, and there is always the "more power, more speed" crowd out there. That's why Dodge builds the Hellcat. Undoubtedly there will be some need for comprehensive rules and statutes. Fortunately I have not seen evidence of the abuse of ebikes in this area yet - I only encountered one high-power rig on the local trails in the last couple of years.

Bigbus

Sorry if I caused any confusion. Having retired from the federal government I forget about all the states having their own sets of rules. We only enforced state rules when requested and usually under special order.

Crosis

I can’t speak for other brands but my wife’s Trek ebike is not faster than me. It tops out at 20 and can’t keep up with me. It’s not moped heavy, it’s more like a steel frame huffy from the 70s.

livedarklions

Yes, I was referring to having more bikes on the roads. Your assumption that I obviously meant to imply the obvious is correct.

livedarklions

Most ebike motors top out at 20 mph by design. There's also plenty of them that can go much faster.

Sy Reene

There certainly though is a good number of net new ebikers who are picking this up as a hobby, replacing another activity (walking, jogging, pingpong) or a sedentary lifestyle.