Lady cyclist killed in Davis involving juvenile on ebike...on the bike path.
- Thread starter Corben
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RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
There is a certain kind of "ebike" that is usually the problem, and they are already illegal. Lack of enforcing the existing laws is usually the problem. We should probably wait to find out the details before jumping to conclusions.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
A youtuber I follow dicusses ebike legislation, he posted last week about Surrons and Escooters.
They are legal to sell and own in the UK, even big brands sell the scooters in high street.
The guy selling it know you will use it on the road, so does the government and the police and the people making them.
But still 'not for road use' on the box absolves everyone from consequence
..except you..and the person who gets taken out by a 100lb 60mph super scooter.
The UK is trialing rental escooters for eventual possible legalisation.
The criteria is interesting.
www.gov.uk
They are legal to sell and own in the UK, even big brands sell the scooters in high street.
The guy selling it know you will use it on the road, so does the government and the police and the people making them.
But still 'not for road use' on the box absolves everyone from consequence
..except you..and the person who gets taken out by a 100lb 60mph super scooter.
The UK is trialing rental escooters for eventual possible legalisation.
The criteria is interesting.
Rental e-scooter trials
6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
This is almost always true about illegal "ebikes" causing these issues but it makes no difference. As a result, more hate is heaped on ALL ebikes. Their legal status doesn't matter.
It won't take many more incidents like this for the Peoples Republic of California to pass more restrictive laws.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Sorry, that's just plain silly. A new batch of ebike laws went into effect in CA at the start of 2026, and a new proposed bill, SB1167, already discussed in another thread, will soon come before the state legislature. All quite reasonable IMO, all aimed primarily at illegal ebikes and reckless riders.
The only issue in my mind relates to the current law's failure to be more specific about the 750W power limit, as I discussed in the thread linked above.
The local regs in Encinitas and Carlsbad are also reasonable and with largely the same aims. Yes, they've reacted to some local tragedies in recent years, but they haven't overreacted.
Here's my state senator Blakespear on her sponsored SB1167 from a recent newsletter. Note the stated desire to protect legal ebiking by going after the bad actors. This stance is typical across the state.
The popularity and explosive growth in the number of e-bike riders across San Diego and Orange counties has created a steady drumbeat of calls to my office for more regulation to protect the safety of riders and the public.
In my family‚ we have had both the negative and positive experiences that come with e-bikes. Our daughter witnessed a dangerous e-bike crash that caused serious injury. However‚ we were early adopters of e-bikes‚ and my 79-year-old mother regularly rides one to her gym workouts!
One of the greatest risks of e-bikes is high speeds and dangerous riding‚ especially when driven by inexperienced‚ and sometimes too young riders.
The state has existing regulations on e-bikes. However‚ misleading marketing of “e-bikes” has led to many things being sold and used as e-bikes that are actually more accurately classified as mopeds or motorcycles.
The fastest e-bikes‚ defined as Class 3‚ cannot legally be ridden by anyone under the age of 16. However‚ many people don’t know what class of bicycle they are buying‚ what its top speed is or whether it is even an e-bike.
After working with bicycle and street safety groups‚ I have introduced legislation to stop these deceptive sales.
SB 1167 expressly states that misrepresenting faster electric vehicles as e-bikes is false advertising that can be prosecuted. In addition‚ sellers of faster or more powerful bicycles would be required to inform consumers that they don’t meet the definition of an e-bike and therefore require vehicle registrations and licenses to operate.
Finally‚ every e-bike sold in the state would be required to have a label on its frames facing skyward‚ so it is easy to see and read‚ identifying what class of e-bike it is and the maximum speed it can go.
This should eliminate misrepresentation‚ and confusion‚ in the marketplace. When people buy a vehicle of any kind‚ they should know what they are getting‚ what the requirements are to operate it and what the range of speed and dangers are.
What’s an E-bike?
This picture shows some of the many different two-wheeled electric vehicles sold. Some do not meet the California definition of an e-bike. Source: Mineta Transportation Institute.
A Growing Market
According to the market research company IMARC Group‚ the sales of e-bikes are expected to continue to grow in coming years‚ making it more important than ever that people understand the differences among the types of vehicles being sold.
Does that sound unreasonable to you?
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RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I am in the camp that there are enough laws to solve this problem already on the books. What we need is enforcement of those laws. In most cases it is the local governments enforcing (or not enforcing) these laws, not the state. Some motors nominally rated for 750 watts and able put out 1000 watts when needed to get up a hill is not the problem. And most of these bikes are ridden responsibly. The Sur-Ron Light Bee X has a nominal power rating of 3000 watts, a peak output around 6000 watts, and a curb weight of 125lbs. It is a motorcycle.
mrgold35
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- ABQ, New Mexico
I've noticed my city has started posting 20 mph speed limit signs on the shared bike, run, and walk paths. It was an unwritten rule for years of keeping your speed at/under 20 mph and the reason for Class I&II ebikes being A-OK on the same paths (Class III not allowed; but, keep your speed under 20 mph and everyone is fine with that).
I'm starting to see more folks on those electric one wheel unicycle or renting electric scooter hauling butt on the same paths or city streets (zero protective gear). Just a matter of time before the +50 mph electric dirt bikes with pedals start hitting the same areas. Most models are faster than Class I&II ebikes for around the same price of inexpensive 750w-1000w rear hub ebike.
I'm starting to see more folks on those electric one wheel unicycle or renting electric scooter hauling butt on the same paths or city streets (zero protective gear). Just a matter of time before the +50 mph electric dirt bikes with pedals start hitting the same areas. Most models are faster than Class I&II ebikes for around the same price of inexpensive 750w-1000w rear hub ebike.
6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
I wasn't passing judgement on existing CA laws, I was merely expressing my frustration with what is happening where I live on the east coast. Most recently, the NJ ebike bill just signed into law.
Riders of illegal bikes are already breaking these laws and will continue to do so with any new legislation. We're dealing mostly with kids here, and the only thing that will get their attention is when someone takes their "toys" away.
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
Initially the surgical nurse who died is a sympathetic character. But we just do not know, she could have been on the left side of the path with earbuds and scrolling a podcast while speeding. If she hit a ballard it would have the same result. In Marin Co. not allowing eMotos at schools has helped dramatically. And having Police with the skills to identify eMotos and impounding them.
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I don't know, it just got under my skin. Someone reads about a fatal accident involving an ebike and runs to EBR to call for new ebike laws before the virtual ink was dry on the story he read.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
2026 is fast becoming the year of the rule.
California is requring age verification or simply identification...for every possible internet connection, this is spreading around the globe and all the most stringent ebike laws will follow.
It will spread by simple personal tech to include every type of transport even walking.
If I could time travel, I would go back and give the Luddites phasers
California is requring age verification or simply identification...for every possible internet connection, this is spreading around the globe and all the most stringent ebike laws will follow.
It will spread by simple personal tech to include every type of transport even walking.
If I could time travel, I would go back and give the Luddites phasers
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
Okay, I will answer your question. We like our bikes and want to keep them. We want to see the upside of eBikes emphasized and recognized. We do not want our bikes being associated with motorcycles that are killing people and are being called bicycles because they are electrically powered instead of gas powered. We do not yet know the actual circumstances in this crash. We do know that the surface of this story fits into negative stereotypes.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Youre right.
Back to 'unpicking crochet with cucumbers'.
Because people look for s*it like this to fill their world. People think by giving their attention to something they can fix it. Doesn’t work that way. You give it energy to grow more of it. Consciousness is energy. Wherever you send your consciousness you give it energy. And whatever you send out comes back to you gathering like energy all the way, for you to experience.
So give your energy to what you want to experience. That is the way creation works. The ego feeds on negativity to create more. Like living in hell but most people don’t have anything to compare their living conditions to so they don’t know the difference.
These forums are getting to be the gathering spot for all those wishing to experience the crawdad effect.
As you were.
Chargeride
Well-Known Member
Anyway.
Sued the dad for filming him and its all over the press again.
www.dailymail.co.uk
Someone wrote in the comments...if you know Belgium, this is no surprise.
Sued the dad for filming him and its all over the press again.
Father who filmed cyclist kneeing his child wins legal battle
A father who was ordered to pay compensation to a cyclist for filming him as he knocked over his young daughter has finally won his legal battle.
edobici_forza
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- San Mateo, CA
Condolences to the bicyclist's family and friends killed in collision with e-bike rider.
Also in the news today...
Calif. dad gets felony charge over son's 60 mph e-motorcycle crash [Orange County father faces a felony charge]
They distinguished between eBike and E-moto / E-motorcycle in this article. It is rare.
Also in the news today...
Calif. dad gets felony charge over son's 60 mph e-motorcycle crash [Orange County father faces a felony charge]
They distinguished between eBike and E-moto / E-motorcycle in this article. It is rare.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Excellent outcome, well-written article for a change!
According to the sponsor, the proposed CA bill SB1167 will make it easier get charges like this to stick. It also puts the folks who sell these machines as legal ebikes at greater legal risk. About time.
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Chargeride
Well-Known Member
tbh, considering the amount of kids on these bikes, the relatively low accident rate while weaving in and out of traffic is testimony to the skills and reactions of the youth.
What is missing is the consequence awareness that is built into them by evolution
They dont mean to harm people, they all think its fine and it wont happen to them.
Funnily enough if you visit warm Europe you find this carries into adulthood, moped riders in cities are beyond belief.
What is missing is the consequence awareness that is built into them by evolution
They dont mean to harm people, they all think its fine and it wont happen to them.
Funnily enough if you visit warm Europe you find this carries into adulthood, moped riders in cities are beyond belief.
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