..that someone started looking at these e-bikes closer and the ******** that they pull on our roads. Here in Mimico I see tons of these goofs bombing around on sidewalks, running stop signs and red lights. I hope they start fining a lot of them...seems like a lot of the bikes are sitting outside of bars. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/201...target_ebike_riders_in_road_safety_blitz.html
It's about damn time...
- Thread starter mimico_polak
- Start date
Roomie
Banned
I've said it before and I'll say it again. They are powered by a motor and should be regulated, insured and lic'd as such. All they are now is an excuse for people with dui's or those who think they shouldn't have to play by the same rules and system as the rest of us. I have to pay insurance, why shouldn't they. How do police expect them to "follow the rules of the road" when they don't have to have a drivers license? Total joke
I hope the police action to help correct operators of these things get traction.
I'm pretty tired of getting scared off the bike/walking/dog paths with idiots on silent electric motors giving no warning they are closing at 20km.
Sometimes you can smell them coming if your downwind since they usually have a butt hanging out of thier mouth.
I'm pretty tired of getting scared off the bike/walking/dog paths with idiots on silent electric motors giving no warning they are closing at 20km.
Sometimes you can smell them coming if your downwind since they usually have a butt hanging out of thier mouth.
I'd say the majority of the people using those e-bikes don't know either of those rules...the rest don't care. I knew they weren't allowed on the Martin Goodman trail, but I didn't know about the bike lane restriction. I say insure them and license them.
That would be called a motorcycle.
Maybe they should be licensed as limited speed motorcycles. it's an existing class of vehicles with established insurance rates. Similarly to how a Nissan Leaf is still a car even though it doesn't burn fuel.
Any attempt to push insurance onto ebikes will almost immediately eliminate the category though. If the upfront cost and running costs are similar (LSM's burn very little fuel), why the hell would you choose to ride an ebike?
I was not aware this was expressly illegal either - is this recent legislation, or has it always been that way?
I think the concept of an e-bike is to offer a vehicle with the benefits of a bicycle but with a broader appeal. To do so they limited them to electric motors and to 32km/h. They are not intended as an electric version of a motorcycle, even though they look like scooters and are often confused for scooters. That is why they can slow down traffic like bicycles, and why they are allowed to run unlicensed and uninsured.
Someone could reasonably argue that they need to be licensed, but they would then have to step back and include cyclists into their discussion. Either the rules would apply equally to cyclists or they wouldn't, based on some differentiating criteria. There are also hybrid "electric assist" bikes that offer a power boost to the cyclist's pedalling. To simply say e-bikes need to be licensed misses the bigger picture.
I'm thinking along the same lines, but that still leaves unlicensed, uninsured cyclists who are also expected to follow the rules of the road. Should they be licensed too?
I almost wanted to say yes but realized how stupid it would be, then you might as well have joggers get licenses too.
There needs to be some way to educate these people to
#1. Get the **** off the side walk
#2. Stop at red lights!
AL3RT
Well-known member
Yup, just saw one blow through a red light this morning.
So what happens when one of them causes an accident? Say the goof hits a car, a biker or even worse, a pedestrian. They are not insured and don't carry vehicle plates. Hit and run anyone?
Perhaps, instead of licensing and enforcing e-bikes we might just cancel it all along for motorcycles? To make it fair.
So what happens when one of them causes an accident? Say the goof hits a car, a biker or even worse, a pedestrian. They are not insured and don't carry vehicle plates. Hit and run anyone?
Perhaps, instead of licensing and enforcing e-bikes we might just cancel it all along for motorcycles? To make it fair.
Roomie
Banned
That's more grey area in my opinion. They're at least human powered. These idiots on e-bikes are not and MANY of them are just using it as a way around having a DUI. Sadly some cyclists are just as stupid, ruining it for those that are not. Same can be said with anything though, motorcycles included.
Sent from my commodore 64 on dial up
If they would charge these idiots it would get better you can not ride a ebike legally if you have a dui.
Car2Slo
Well-known member
Forgive me fellow riders for I have sinned.
I bought my dad an e-bike last month, actually a Motorino Xpd / Honda ruckus clone, and have been riding it around whenever I get a chance.
It's fun not having to gear up and feel the wind on my face while being forced to ride under most speed limits. Drivers look at me funny and kids always laugh and stare but I don't care, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy like I'm the albino brother of the motorcycle community.
I also ride it like a motorcycle on the street, not on the sidewalk, signal and do shoulder checks. Trust me that I can appreciate safety conscious e-bike riders and am here to defend e-bike's as an alternative transportation method.
I bought my dad an e-bike last month, actually a Motorino Xpd / Honda ruckus clone, and have been riding it around whenever I get a chance.
It's fun not having to gear up and feel the wind on my face while being forced to ride under most speed limits. Drivers look at me funny and kids always laugh and stare but I don't care, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy like I'm the albino brother of the motorcycle community.I also ride it like a motorcycle on the street, not on the sidewalk, signal and do shoulder checks. Trust me that I can appreciate safety conscious e-bike riders and am here to defend e-bike's as an alternative transportation method.
