faster than feet, less impactful than cars, individual unlike busses | MetaFilter
http://www.metafilter.com/170504/faster-than-feet-less-impactful-than-cars-individual-unlike-busses
Hmm.. so many things I wanna comment about on this #mefi thread, but outweighed by the task of finding my login. Anyway, #ebikes are only as bad as their riders, just like with anything else.
@limabean in this case looks like combination of unclear legislation *and* road use attitudes.
Here in UK/Europe each country has domestic laws but consensus is developing that 25 km/h ebikes are treated same as bicycles
45 km/h e-bikes follow rules for small scooters/mopeds (usually require some kind of license, helmet etc and cannot always use bicycle paths).
Mostly this works well, provided people ride sensibly (in some areas even 25 km/h is too fast and intimdating to other cyclists)
@vfrmedia I think you're def right about confusion over laws. It's unfortunate NYC's (of all places!) is going in the wrong direction however and I don't think it's an accident that it is low wage marginalized workers who are most associated with ebikes there. Here in SF, while still a small minority, ebikes seem more associated with nerds and maybe older people.