Anyone else see this from Berm Peak uploaded to YouTube last night? Massive over reaction from New Jersey legislature to some e-motorbike injuries, even euro style pedelecs now need number plates, insurance & motorbike helmet. Blimey, ammo for the anti-cyclist lobby if it gains wider traction in the states. 🙁
Yeah, I watched that last night... Yes, knee-jerk that missed the point (IMHO) and it is still penalising the wrong people, but if legislation was required to try and tame the sector, I'm not sure they could have done much else; it _does_ make the whole thing easier to understand.
Seth's closing comment is spot on though: People need to get together and actually decide what is meant by an e-bike, AND enforce it, otherwise the same thing will happen in other places.
This is why we have a clear line between an ebike and S-pedelec this side of the Atlantic, remember you need reg, plates, insurance, helmet etc for an S-pedelec over here. The lines are far more blurred in the USA (and elsewhere like New Zealand) that will mean ebikers will get drawn into legislation designed for S-pedelecs rather then being treated like regular cyclists. It's inevitable.
Those calling for the limits on ebikes over here to fall in line with the USA, or otherwise loosened up, need to be very careful what they wish for. The same goes for those setting their ebikes to "USA mode" or "New Zealand mode" (and the manufacturers allowing that), potentially dragging all ebike users into the S-pedelec category in the eyes of legislators in the future.
Isn't the whole classification thing only really applicable to their use on the road? IE almost no-one cares (legally) if you USAify an eBike to raise the speed limit so long as you only use it off road?
Obviously there's a usage and moral issue but otherwise it's down to the landowner.
Isn't the whole classification thing onlyreallyapplicable to their use on the road?
No, if you injured someone in a public place, such as a public forest, you'd still be breaking the law if they checked the bike.
Llandegla also have a big notice as you enter the trails that only unmodified e-bikes are allowed so although private land applicable there too, and probably other trail centers for insurance purposes.
Edit, damn, already got sucked into a modified e-bike argument, and that wasn't my intention.
There's a reasonable argument that it should make enforcement against the currently illegal bikes much easier. Rather than having to measure output/top speed etc you get a ticket if your bike has a motor and isn't registered.
Rather than having to measure output/top speed etc you get a ticket if your bike has a motor and isn't registered.
Have a look at the film Gribs. You don't just need registration, you need insurance, a driving licence, a proper motorbike helmet and a licence plate, essentially the same as riding a proper motorbike. I'm not an e-bike fanboi, but I can appreciate their utility as a simple replacement for short car journeys. If this kind of law is the thin end of the wedge for other countries it'll basically be the death knell for e-bikes of all kinds, (MTB's, commuters, cargo bikes) because everyone will think 'meh, can't be arsed'.
You don't just need registration, you need insurance, a driving licence, a proper motorbike helmet and a licence plate, essentially the same as riding a proper motorbike.
is new jersey one of the states where you have to wear a helmet on a motorcycle or not? would be hilariously un-joined up thinking if so.
I have previously thought that no motor Vs motor is a much more obvious distinction than motor capabilities and easily tweaked software limits. The capabilities of high end ebikes certainly feel closer to Motos than push bikes.
Isn't the whole classification thing only really applicable to their use on the road? IE almost no-one cares (legally) if you USAify an eBike to raise the speed limit so long as you only use it off road?
Obviously there's a usage and moral issue but otherwise it's down to the landowner.
No - if an electric vehicle is not a pedelec then it is a mechanically propelled vehilce, in which case the provisions of the road traffic act, such as s143 (Insurance) apply "on a road or other public place" and s34 prohibits the use of a mechanically propelled vehilcle on use (without permission) on land which is not a road.
The capabilities of high end ebikes certainly feel closer to Motos than push bikes.
Some motor manufacturers are blurring the lines. I’d rather they were better regulated than we risk the situation (as above) of losing a category of e-bikes that can be treated as if they have no motor at all… it’s a vehicle class that can help a lot of people, and help with congestion, and give many people a lot of enjoyment.
I can see the rules that draw the line between EAPCs and S-pedelecs being refined to reduce the chances to work around them. In Europe at least.
I wonder how many S-Pedelecs UK suppliers sell registered as mopeds Vs how many they sell unregistered 🤔
The Al-Gore-Rhythm keeps offering me that video to watch, and I know He had previously "warned" about the perils of E-bike regulation in the US.
The thing is that the same problems persist in 'merica as they do in blighty, i.e. users non-compliance with the established rules. I'll watch the Berm Peak vid later, but I'm guessing this is a tightening of rules and associated penalties... But still not particularly enforceable(?), again the same as in the UK.
Thing is whatever limitations you set on an "assisted" bicycle someone will always want to exceed them....
Personally, I think this was inevitable as the industry is taking the piss as it's waaaay too easy to circumvent the intention/spirit of the laws. And it's up to the industry to fix the problem they've created and forget about the (max power) arms race...
The capabilities of high end ebikes certainly feel closer to Motos than push bikes.
Tell me you’ve never ridden a moto without telling me you’ve never ridden a moto.
An epedelec is about 1.5hp. My mates Husky is mid 30s and there’s really no comparison.
Makes sense, they are motorbikes (a bike with a literal motor) after all - no matter what mental gymnastics are done. Legislation not quite caught up to reality yet.
And meanwhile here in Ireland in response to e-scooter/scrambler bikes and electric bike incidents, the government are considering making it mandatory for all cyclists wear a high viz and a helmet. A case of throwing the baby out with the bath water I feel.
They all need to be crushed, well this one in particular... 