Daniel4

The other day, I saw an e-bike ad on Youtube that boasts it can go 50mph.

At that speed, shouldn't it be classified as a motorcycle? 50mph is the slowest speed to be allowed on some highways. At that speed, you won't be wearing a bike helmet but a crash helmet and tough protective clothing.

If they are capable of going 50mph, should they be allowed on MUPs or bike lanes? Sure they can proceed slowly, who's going to do that?

cat0020

Not just ebikes, even escooters are cruising among cars.. ON THE HIGHWAY.

With warmer weather, I'd imagine these speedsters on ebike, escooters are going to be more frequent sights.
Protective gear? That's for those who actually have sense for safety.. or survival.
Time will tell how many of those high speed capable ebikes, escooters will remain.

dabac

Part of that is like the old and tired argument about guns. The thing itself doesn’t become a threat until handled with poor judgement and/or malicious intent.
And for cars we’re all used to share the road with other similarly sized cars that can have 2-3 times as much HP. And again, that capacity for mayhem and chaos usually doesn’t cause a problem until combined with poor judgement and/or malicious intent.
So it’s no way guaranteed that seriously overpowered ebikes have to become a significant problem.
But yeah, I understand your concern.
It seems to be a surprisingly widespread notion that electric propulsion and calling something a ”bicycle” somehow makes it ”safe” to faff about any old how. Ignore legal classifications, ride anything, anywhere etc etc. However, AFAIK, this casual attitude hasn’t as yet caused any serious accidents.

CliffordK

I've hit over 50 MPH on my bicycle (no motor, just pedals). But, a good hill helps A LOT.

Most commercial E-Bikes will have some sort of governor that will kick out at 20 MPH (or maybe 30 MPH). You may be able to push it faster, but it will be on manual power.

However, those selling parts and kits may not play by the same rules. Likewise, bikes sold direct from China may not be regulated.

I see you can purchase a 5000W e-bike direct from China.

There is a huge crossover with parts between E-Bikes, E-Mopeds, E-Scooters, and E-Motorcycles. So, one may put E-Motorcycle parts onto a bicycle.

A lot of people relish the minimally regulated E-Bike market, but that may well change in the near future, especially if more speed bandits hit the streets, parks, and bike trails. And, if they start injuring themselves, or others.

fooferdoggie 

I have seen those uniwheels going so fast. those are crazy as you dont have the ability to brake very well or maneuver.

2old

Any two or three wheel vehicle with more than 750w is either a moped or motorcycle in the US AFAIK. 50 mph vehicles are motorcycles.

Daniel4

Looking on the bright side, with the high price of gasoline ( which will only go higher in future decades) bikes like these may reduce the number of cars on the road and with it, congestion.

CliffordK

But they'll bring chaos to parks and off street bike paths.

veganbikes

Two wheels and a motor that is activated by pedaling is a bicycle what you probably saw was some moped crap or something highly illegal and probably made from cheap parts.

Bicycles belong just about anywhere but throttled machines belong on just roads or private affairs. If you aren't physically moving to propel forwards 100% of the time (minus coasting) then you don't need to be on a MUP or anything like that and if you are going at high speeds you definitely don't belong on anything shared with pedestrians.

Me personally I have no interest in going more than the 28mph my bike is limited to aside from unassisted on a downhill or something like that. If I want to go fast I want an actual motorcycle but I am good. My bike is just fine and way more fun and I get some exercise out of the affair.

speedy25

Skipped the doom and gloom arguments.

IF it will do 50, it will be the scariest moment of your life!
If you survive the police will most likely impound it unless they are clueless about electric vehicles.

-SP

2old

In CA, and at least half of the other states, unless prohibited specifically by separate ordinance, a vehicle with pedals that has a motor with less than 750w and a throttle that shuts off at 20 mph is considered a bicycle BY STATE LAW. I'm in favor of this because it allows physically impaired individuals the same freedom as the rest of us. Also, I've heard of individuals who were in an accident being able to ride back using a throttle.

dabac

Really, shouldn’t we be more concerned with how a vehicle is actually operated rather than with what else it might be capable of?
It seems to work for cars.
And it’s absolutely no problem to ride an entirely human-powered bicycle in a manner that seems like homicidal/suicidal to anyone but the rider. Or maybe even to the rider for all that I know.
I don’t have a problem sharing a MUP or bicycle lane with a vehicle that weighs and behaves like a bicycle, regardless of what else it can do.

palincss

50 mph is far too fast to be classed as an e-bike. It is a motorcycle or a moped. Intent has nothing to do with it, and there's no resemblance to guns. The definitions are spelled out in the law, and are based on objective facts about the vehicles. For example,Virginia Code section 46.2-100 defines a moped as a vehicle that:

• travels on three wheels or less,
• a seat that is no less than 24 inches in height, measured from the ground to the middle of the seat, and
• has a gasoline, electric, or hybrid motor that displaces less than 50 cubic centimeters (or 50cc).

tds101 

30mph is where I personally draw the line. Otherwise it would require full MC gear.

msu2001la

And yet... every car sold is capable of topping 100mph, some capable of going 200mph. There are very few, if any, places where driving 100mph+ is safe or legal.

This has been going on for decades.

cat0020

Hence license, registration & insurance required for cars.

2old

About the same for me. I got to 33 mph and decided that was fast enough on my "e"rrand bike. However downhill speeds can be slightly higher on an MTB (non "e"), and seem safe (to me).

jon c. 

I saw a scooter the other day that was doing near 50 downhill and over 35 on the flat. He used the bike lane for the mile or so it exists and then took the lane for the next mile and had no problem holding his place in morning traffic. I'd be afraid to go that fast on wheels that size. Doesn't seem like it would take much of a pebble to send you airborne.

Daniel4

I wonder what his braking distance is? I'd be afraid to get anything closer than 2 seconds and you know, a lot of cars like to tailgate slow moving vehicles.

MarcusT

I cannot see why there is so much confusion to come up with some common laws. Much of the world has; if it can go over 20 mph (25kph) with motor assist, it is considered a motor vehicle and must be registered as such. Not permitted on sidewalks, bike paths and where other motor vehicles are banned. You want to go faster, get your license, insurance and stay off the MUPs. If someone is imprudent enough to ride on a MUP at 30 mph, then they do not deserve to be there. I don't care how safe you believe you are.

2old

There are laws in most states (look up the "Class System). In Orange County they're mostly not enforced, and I doubt most police know the laws.

LarrySellerz

As someone else mentioned, any bike can go 50 mph down a big hill. Adding a motor to the mix doesn’t fundamentally change anything about the equation

tds101 

Oh, hills are a completely different story. I've done WAYYYYYYYYY over 30mph going down hills. I'm only talking about pootling around in traffic and such with an ebike, since the goal for me is to bob and weave through traffic. Some people like to shoot between cars and pedestrians at high rates of speed in NYC, and that's where the real safety issues come in.

cat0020

palincss

Yeah, bobbing and weaving through traffic has real safety issues too.