California looking at new law about e bike licensing and training.

[FrankR]

I have very mixed feelings about all this.

On one hand, I want anything that will bring about additional safety.

On the other hand, I'm not in love with another registration fee. More important, I'm not so sure the right problem is being solved.

In my area, when we ride a long rail trail, the fast/dangerous activity comes from the non-e bikers. I haven't seen one ebiker at an inappropriate speed. But I have seen countless non-e bikers flying by people walking the trail.

Any bike, with a fit rider, can go 22mph and more. THAT's dangerous when done among walking patrons. That problem should get addressed, and frankly, I don't know the answer to that. This is not an e-problem. Maybe the e folks are generally contributing to a rising population of riders. But the e in and of itself is Not the problem.

 

[FrankR]

Having said all that, I'll add:

- If the riding is trail riding or low speed town riding, it shouldn't be regulated.

- If the riding is City riding, where bikes and ebikes are attempting to use the same roads as cars, at speeds of 25+ mph, yeah, I understand a case can be made for more regulation.