As much as owners of non compliant electric motor bikes can't understand why anyone cares what they ride, they can never seem to understand what owners of legal ebikes fear losing. I've seen what a ban looks like, riders suddenly losing access to paths and trails they've ridden for years. The amount of money, time and devotion spent on this ebike lifestyle suddenly ripped away. Years of work to try and regain that access with no guarantee of success. The coattails aren't strong enough to drag all the other non compliant bikes along for the ride. Something's got to give.
The sky isn't falling? Tell that to the 65 year old owner of a $4k gravel ebike that just lost access to the only paths they have. Their retirement gift to themselves to stay or get fit. A chance for outdoor activities. Gone.
I commuted for years on a bike, then ebike. Thousands of miles every year. My job today doesn't allow me the opportunity to commute, but I get thousands of miles in on other commuting, exploring, leisure and fitness rides. All riding has value to the rider and no one wants to lose that valuable asset. It could be replacing car or motorcycle trips; it might just be replacing couch potato time, but it has value and it contributes to a greater good.
I have ridden motorcycles and bikes since the 60's. I am very much an advocate for all of the above. My 32 year old Harley dresser gets 50 mpg, even that is a good car replacement. With all of the electric mopeds and scooters being sold, that do not meet legal standards for USDOT or ebike regs, something is going to give. This year, next year, five years? There's a lot to lose.
