Getting two-wheeled electric vehicles under control
Great for responsible users. Sometimes a menace on sidewalks and bike trails.
Michigan Enjoyer has a piece by me today (actually yesterday, but I was traveling), titled “E-Bikes Are Out Control”. As some of you know, we were probably one of the first families in the Lansing area to adopt e-bikes, so we love the technology. BUT, it is also increasingly clear that they (really, bad operators of them) are sometimes alarming pedestrians and causing problems on sidewalks and bike trails. What should we do about it? Click over to read some thoughts.
Here in Germany, Class 1 e-bikes (with 25 km/h max assisted speed) are extremely common. Class 2/3 e-bikes, on the other hand, are extremely rare because they require a license plate (probably connected with a tax) and may not be used on sidewalks and in pedestrian areas.
You probably have to be able to fine people for reckless biking to start to solve this problem.