I have a friend who hates any electric bike not "pedal-assist". His opinion is they are electric motorbikes - that happen to have pedals as a backup option, usually not used.
And if anyone said "lets ride motorbikes with pedestrians" they'd be looked at funny.
I'm seeing more near misses each week AND in 20 years I'll be old enough to feel real vulnerable...
Everyone is vulnerable regardless of age. There absolutely need to be regulations around how these ebikes are allowed to go based on their power output.
I ride a motorbike. I'd argue speed is the limiter.
Some of these electric bikes are quite speedy - capable of mixing it up with flowing traffic. So classify them as being motorbikes.
If they can't go that fast, or are "assistive only" (require large fraction of rider pedal input up to a set speed) then legislatively they are a "normal bike".
The thing is, we already have the rules around each style of bike. It's just a classification thing.
Many electric bikes are masquerading and hoping no one looks too closely. So, just look closely. And hold actions responsible.
E-bikes are shockingly dangerous, although at least the only kill their operators and other pedestrians, unlike cars and trucks which spread the carnage around to everyone.
And if anyone said "lets ride motorbikes with pedestrians" they'd be looked at funny.
I'm seeing more near misses each week AND in 20 years I'll be old enough to feel real vulnerable...