Total e-bike ban after a fatality in Key Biscayne, FLA

[jabberwocky]

The compounding factor there is a lot of ebike advocates bristle or get wishy washy when stronger enforcement of e-motos-pretending-to-be-ebikes is proposed. Which makes it really easy to just lump those in with actual ebikes in peoples minds. I mean, I've lost count of how many times people here have basically proposed just allowing whatever ebike wherever and just add speed limits on sidewaks/trails/paths.

 

[m@Robertson]

I've lost count of how many times people here have basically proposed just allowing whatever ebike wherever and just add speed limits on sidewaks/trails/paths.

Oddly enough it solved the problem here. A 12 mph speed limit was enacted for a crowded segment of the tourist-laden bike path. It was enforced for a short time, and enforcement was subsequently abandoned. In the years since ebike use has exploded to the point where they outnumber bicycles by a wide margin, and I have seen no city council complaints since the speed limit was put in place.

I like to think its because the real danger has always been analog commuter cyclists annoyed by the oblivious foot traffic, and further enforcement would start to focus on them, which the more established residents here who are doing it would not welcome.

 

[jabberwocky]

Oddly enough it solved the problem here. A 12 mph speed limit was enacted for a crowded segment of the tourist-laden bike path. It was enforced for a short time, and enforcement was subsequently abandoned. In the years since ebike use has exploded to the point where they outnumber bicycles by a wide margin, and I have seen no city council complaints since the speed limit was put in place.

A couple of paths in the DC area have speed limits that have existed for longer than ebikes have really been a thing. Generally they were probably enacted more as a CYA for the managing agencies than something intended to change behavior and are completely unenforced. Thats not really what I'm talking about though, I mean people arguing that anything vaguely resembling an ebike should be allowed wherever, and if (when) conflict occurs it should be solved with speed limits and enforcement instead of saying that no, your emoto isn't an ebike and isn't appropriate here. I've always seen that as a bad-faith argument, mainly advanced by people who want to keep doing what they want rather than people interested in solving a problem. Its difficult enough to get police agencies to enforce traffic laws on roads.

I like to think its because the real danger has always been analog commuter cyclists annoyed by the oblivious foot traffic, and further enforcement would start to focus on them, which the more established residents here who are doing it would not welcome.

There are definitely some MUPs that just suck to cycle on at certain times because they are so heavily used by pedestrians. Mainly in urban areas. Eventually you learn to just ride the road. Especially on an ebike, if the path is that heavily used by peds than nearby roads should be fine to ride on.

 

[m@Robertson]

There are definitely some MUPs that just suck to cycle on at certain times because they are so heavily used by pedestrians. Mainly in urban areas. Eventually you learn to just ride the road. Especially on an ebike, if the path is that heavily used by peds than nearby roads should be fine to ride on.

Thats pretty much what I do, but that literally puts me on Cannery Row in Monterey CA, which is packed with tourists both on foot and in cars. The vehicles are going 15-20 mph and the drivers are rubbernecking themselves, so speed is good but you still have clueless bozos to avoid.

Boo Hoo. If I was still in Fresno I'd be fighting 100+ degree weather. Its 55-65 here.