Popular among teenagers, the large electric bikes have triggered ‘numerous complaints’ to councils as fears grow for the safety of riders and pedestrians

  • @Evotech
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    6 months ago

    In Norway they are locked to about 21kmh and throttles are not allowed. Need to have pedals. You are also “required” to not go above walking speed when passing close by pedestrians. Although that last one is not really enforced.

    You are also required to be insured, even those e-scooters

    I’d be surprised if this won’t be the standard everywhere in a few years.

    Not sure what Australian government has been doing. Legislation was in place asap over here

    That said, regulation sucks and it’s be way more fun to just go 50kmph on a bike with just a throttle. But then you are not really a bike anymore. Probably more of an electric motorcycle and would need a license and be constrained to roads.

    • @[email protected]
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      76 months ago

      I’m on board with all these regulations except the mandatory insurance; active mobility (walking, bicycling, kick scooters, skateboarding, etc) should not require insurance.

      • @Evotech
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        36 months ago

        Idk, it’s for if you hit someone. They go pretty fast and can easily do a lot of damage to a pedestrian

        • @[email protected]
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          26 months ago

          Private liability insurance is anyway something everyone should have, just make those cover bike accidents and that’s it

    • @Treczoks
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      56 months ago

      That said, regulation sucks and it’s be way more fun to just go 50kmph on a bike with just a throttle. But then you are not really a bike anymore. Probably more of an electric motorcycle and would need a license and be constrained to roads.

      Indeed, then they should fall under the same legal definition as a motorcycle, with tags, insurance, driving licence, etc.

    • @[email protected]
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      26 months ago

      Perhaps it’s just the US, but most of the time, the speeding bikes on bike paths here are non-electric, lycra clad fellows doing well over 40kmh on road bikes. I can’t even keep up with them on an ebike, haha. They also fly through the red lights, which makes me feel a bit unwell thinking about what could potentially happen if they are unlucky.

      I’m a bit worried their aggressive behavior is reflecting poorly on the larger community while cars kinda get off with a slap on the wrist for things of a similar nature.

      A family friend actually got pulled over for doing 64 kmh on his road bike. Non electric, but he was speed gunned and pulled over, haha.

    • tiredofsametab
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      16 months ago

      Japan also (though not sure on max speed’s exact value). Bicycles here aren’t generally allowed on sidewalks, either (with exceptions for kids/elderly)