Surf City contemplates enforcement of e bike rules.

[cyclingday]

Hello!
McFly!
Where have you been?
A little late to actually start taming the Wild West of motorized cycles!
But, I guess, it’s better late, than never.

Typical pathetic bureaucracy though.
Totally complicate a simple concept.
If it doesn’t take human power to make it go, it shouldn’t be on the oceanfront bike path.
Pretty simple concept really.
Electric cycles are fine, as long as they are still considered bicycles.
But, if all you have to do, is twist the throttle, then it’s a MOTOR driven cycle.
And the last time I checked, all the signs list those as PROHIBITED!
HELLO!
McFLY!
Don’t be so gullible!
It’s simple, enforce the law that has existed since day one.

 

[49autocycledeluxe]

saw a guy on a fast one a few weeks back in the designated bike lane... he was going fast enough where he should have been in the traffic lane. had to be going 25 at least. I sure would not want to be passed in the bike lane doing 10 mph on a fat tire bike by that clown.

 

[bobcycles]

Here in Redondo, Hermosa, Manhattan beach bike paths (The strand) ... there are still plenty of fools
blazing on E bikes even tho prohibited there. Most are silent, you can't hear them coming up behind
you ...make a slight turn to the left or right as they approach and you're screwed, like getting hit by
a freight train. They suck where they don't belong. Lazy kids everywhere here now who can't pedal a bike.

 

[Kickstand3]

I saw a kid on a E bike cruising and texting at the same time 😵‍💫. I thought to myself if he hit s someone , they would get seriously hurt.

 

[cyclingday]

See it all the time in Newport/Huntington.
Segway makes on that is a flat out dual sport motorcycle.
They cost at least $12,000 dollars, and I see kids blazing all over on them.
With a simple software update, they are capable of going 40 mph.
Now, don’t get me wrong!
If I was a 14 year old kid, and daddy bought me a $12,000 motorcycle to race around on, you can bet, that is exactly what I’d be doing.
I see the attraction from their point of view, but it just boggles my mind, that our authorities have let our society go free for all.
Anything goes these days, and now that the leash has been cut, good luck trying to reign it all back in.

 

[Pedals Past]

See it all the time in Newport/Huntington.
Segway makes on that is a flat out dual sport motorcycle.
They cost at least $12,000 dollars, and I see kids blazing all over on them.
With a simple software update, they are capable of going 40 mph.
Now, don’t get me wrong!
If I was a 14 year old kid, and daddy bought me a $12,000 motorcycle to race around on, you can bet, that is exactly what I’d be doing.
I see the attraction from their point of view, but it just boggles my mind, that our authorities have let our society go free for all.
Anything goes these days, and now that the leash has been cut, good luck trying to reign it all back in.

Its kind of like people who own Teslas i see them flying down the freeway cutting in and out of traffic with not much regard could just happen to be related to the fact buying those high dollar vehicles makes them priveledged and unaccountable …… my 36 hp 57 VW to them just seems in their way …… its beyond me why we need to have a vehicle that exceeds the established speed of safety.

 

[phantom]

Its kind of like people who own Teslas i see them flying down the freeway cutting in and out of traffic with not much regard could just happen to be related to the fact buying those high dollar vehicles makes them priveledged and unaccountable …… my 36 hp 57 VW to them just seems in their way …… its beyond me why we need to have a vehicle that exceeds the established speed of safety.

It's not a matter of need, it's want. Do you really believe automakers, motorcycle companies should only produce vehicles that don't exceed the speed limit? How long do you think any would last if they were constantly driven at WOT?

 

[fordmike65]

It's not a matter of need, it's want. Do you really believe automakers, motorcycle companies should only produce vehicles that don't exceed the speed limit? How long do you think any would last if they were constantly driven at WOT?

It's called a governor or speed limiter. No reason the engine would be running at Wide Open Throttle. Many fleet vehicles are limited to the speed limit or just a few miles over. Many cars have a similar feature to help parents feel safer when their young licensed child is using the vehicle.

 

[phantom]

It's called a governor or speed limiter. No reason the engine would be running at Wide Open Throttle. Many fleet vehicles are limited to the speed limit or just a few miles over. Many cars have a similar feature to help parents feel safer when their young licensed child is using the vehicle.

And that's fine for anyone that wants one, however, they should not be mandated or required. That's what my reply was in response to.

 

[Schwinn Sales West]

We really have no need for new rules or regulations.

There are plenty of existing laws, and regulations currently on the books to control the vehicle safety problems which are never enforced. I live on a busy commuter street and witness many electric bicycles blasting down my street in excess of the posted 35 MPH speed limit. As a California M1 licensed motorcycle rider I'm required to wear a helmet, but the electric bicyclist's riding the "wrong direction" down my street seldom wear a helmet. Electric bicycles are not toys, they should require a licensed rider and obey the same rules that any motor vehicle is currently required to use. It's a safety hazard for my wife to back our truck out of our driveway and have to watch for electric bicycles riding both in excess of the posted speed limit and on the wrong side of the road with no light visibility.

As a motorist, if you hit anyone on an electric bicycle you're going to be sued in California, no matter how it happened. If the kid blew the red light, you might get let off on a 50% responsibility by a jury. They would say your 50% responsibility is because you should still have had control over your vehicle. Even if you get let off by the jury trial 100%, you are going to have your time and financial expense of the defending the case caused by another rider's negligence.

My vote is for increased enforcement of existing laws, not more laws which will be only selectively enforced, for a limited time.

John