The Future of eBikes: How Fast is Too Fast?

[TPEHAK]

You will be liable for caused harm regardless if you rode acoustic bicycle or 9000W electric bicycle.

 

[stompandgo]

Liable, potentially, but my "acoustic" bicycle is covered under my homeowners insurance, which makes it covered under my umbrella liability insurance.

 

[jabberwocky]

You will be liable for caused harm regardless if you rode acoustic bicycle or 9000W electric bicycle.

You're much more likely to lose the liability battle if you're riding a bike that isn't actually legal to be ridden where you were riding it. Its also much more likely that whatever umbrella insurance you have (homeowners or renters or whatever) will deny any coverage.

 

[PedalUma]

Liable, potentially, but my "acoustic" bicycle is covered under my homeowners insurance, which makes it covered under my umbrella liability insurance.

An electric bicycle is still just a bicycle. It is like a wristwatch that has a battery. It is still a wristwatch. Electronic shifting on bikes also requires batteries, but those also are just bikes.

 

[TPEHAK]

You're much more likely to lose the liability battle if you're riding a bike that isn't actually legal to be ridden where you were riding it. Its also much more likely that whatever umbrella insurance you have (homeowners or renters or whatever) will deny any coverage.

Sure, and that's fine. But there is no need to add more restrictions on e-bikes, especially if you believe you can win the legal battle.

 

[stompandgo]

You're much more likely to lose the liability battle if you're riding a bike that isn't actually legal to be ridden where you were riding it. Its also much more likely that whatever umbrella insurance you have (homeowners or renters or whatever) will deny any coverage.

It's absolutely legal to ride my e-bike in MA anywhere but on a sidewalk, limited access highway, or on an off road trail without the property owner's permission.

 

[stompandgo]

Sure, and that's fine. But there is no need to add more restrictions on e-bikes, especially if you believe you can win the legal battle.

I don't want restrictions, I want definitions and clarity, preferably nationwide.

 

[stompandgo]

An electric bicycle is still just a bicycle. It is like a wristwatch that has a battery. It is still a wristwatch. Electronic shifting on bikes also requires batteries, but those also are just bikes.

I agree with you, but my insurance companies do not.

 

[juggernaut1]

Best thing to do is read your policy and confirm your understanding with your insurer.

My policy is more concerned with how you ride it and who can ride it (min age limits) rather than what you ride……for now.

 

[TPEHAK]

Insurance companies are in business of making money. If they believe covering e-bikes relater liability won't make them money they will not cover it. There are multiple reasons they believe insuring e-bikes related liability will not make them money.

 

[scottsdalecommuter]

I've definitely slowed down on my e-bike the past few years. When I get around walkers/joggers I go even slower. I've seen people on bike paths just randomly cut across in front of me multiple times for no reason at all. And most folks have in airpods so a bell or polite on your left doesn't do anything. I would have thought rules would have been further along by now for e-bikes but i don't think anyone is quite sure what to do. Between roads, bike lanes, sidewalks, bike paths, hiking trails, there's just so many different applications it would be tough to nail down.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

You will be liable for caused harm regardless if you rode acoustic bicycle or 9000W electric bicycle.

Yeah, but you will almost certainly cause less harm with an acoustic bicycle riding an average speed of 10mph versus an electric motorcycle going 50mph.

 

[TPEHAK]

Agree. Imagine how less harm would be if we banned cars completely and just used acoustic bicycles! Approximately 3,700 people die in car accidents each day worldwide! Almost 20,000 people died in car accidents since this topic started! We need to do something, ban the cars and force everyone to use acoustic bicycles!

 

[PedalUma]

On MUPs I rarely go over 12 mph and still get where I am headed faster than a car facing traffic and lights. I just downshift and spin on the Multi-Use-Paths. There are ear plug/buds and dogs off leash with tots and elderly.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Agree. Imagine how less harm would be if we banned cars completely and just used acoustic bicycles! Approximately 3,700 people die in car accidents each day worldwide! Almost 20,000 people died in car accidents since this topic started! We need to do something, ban the cars and force everyone to use acoustic bicycles!

That is a completely idiotic straw man argument and doesn't even appear relevant to our discussion here.

And a lot of countries out there are doing far better about motor vehicle safety than the Untied States. And doing it without banning cars.

 

[TPEHAK]

How about allowing those high speed capable e-bikes on highways so they will do what they do there and won't bother you where they bother you right now?

 

[chunk]

I don't think speed and performance is the issue, if it were we'd have cars and motorcycles governed to 55 MPH. The problem lies with the fact there is no licensing requirement to who and what age can ride an ebike. Children and young teens, and a few immature adults are the problem. Legislate some licensing requirements and set some specific requirements instead of going after the bikes. And if it doesn't have pedals, it's not a bicycle, that would be a different category up for a separate debate by the legislators.

 

[TPEHAK]

Children and young teens, and a few immature adults is not enough problem for licensing, governing, enforcing it and putting another limitations for the whole crowd. Licensing is bigger problem itself.

 

[kevinmccune]

I agree with you. Motor vehicle speed enforcement is a side hustle for government. My concern is liability, only liability.

you said it.

 

[kevinmccune]

I don't think speed and performance is the issue, if it were we'd have cars and motorcycles governed to 55 MPH. The problem lies with the fact there is no licensing requirement to who and what age can ride an ebike. Children and young teens, and a few immature adults are the problem. Legislate some licensing requirements and set some specific requirements instead of going after the bikes. And if it doesn't have pedals, it's not a bicycle, that would be a different category up for a separate debate by the legislators.

cars are actually governed now many would go faster if not governed the criteria seems to be the speed rating of the stock tires,anybody here remember the 85 mph speedometer bit? my old dodge dakota was "drag limited to 102 mph.I believe the v8s had enough power to hit the governors(106 mph),the old 4 cyl "buckboards" (D21s) were governed to 96, the first "hardbody" I had didn't seem to be governed had it up to 105 mph,Yes VA there are speed restrictions on cars,the hot luxury cars are limited to 155 mph,the powerful sport cars anyone's guess.