Thought that cruise control might be non-compliant with 3-class legislation.

[Ken M]

My mis-read on section 206...sorry!!

This is the section 206 motor disengagement rule in their "model legislation" that I misread. I was thinking both had to disengage the motor but not the correct interpretation.
An electric bicycle shall operate in a manner so that the electric motor is disengaged or ceases to function when the rider stops pedaling or when the brakes are applied.

 

[jabberwocky]

...Why would anyone want cruise control on a bicycle? Is this something people actually use? That seems like a genuinely terrible idea.

In any case, that is how cruise control works in cars (it disengages when the brakes are applied). If someone really wants cruise control on a bike (again, why?!) I don't think it would be technically illegal on a class 2, but it would have to shut the motor down when you brake like a cars does.

 

[Ken M]

...Why would anyone want cruise control on a bicycle? Is this something people actually use? That seems like a genuinely terrible idea.

In any case, that is how cruise control works in cars (it disengages when the brakes are applied). If someone really wants cruise control on a bike (again, why?!) I don't think it would be technically illegal on a class 2, but it would have to shut the motor down when you brake like a cars does.

Same reason some touring motorcycles have cruise control - to relieve having to always be holding a throttle position. On a touring ebike the cruise could auto adjust the assist level to maintain a constant speed while the rider just keeps a steady level of effort. Grin Technologies advocates cruise controls so some riders must want them so maybe People for Bikes should not be deeming them illegal.

By the way I have a $5,500 Haibike Trekking model that does not comply with this section (the motor will assist when brakes are applied and the rider isn't pedaling and it's a Yamaha drive system).

 

[tomjasz]

Why would anyone want cruise control on a bicycle?

Because I can. Not everyone is fully able.

 

[jabberwocky]

I'm not going to say what else is the result of that section but if you really think about you will get it - a bigger mistake by PFBs with that section. Hint: says motor must disengage when rider stops pedaling. I'll leave it to you to figure out but it's pretty obvious.

Must disengage when the rider stops pedaling or when brakes are engaged. I would read that as “pedal assist has the motor stop when you stop pedaling, or throttle bikes need to have a brake cutoff”. I don’t see how that bans cruise control. It just needs to shut off when you grab the brakes (which is an excellent idea if you actually have to have cruise control on a bike; a motor system that can be set to cruise sans rider input and remains engaged even in an emergency stop is absolutely a vehicle that should not be on any public infrastructure whatsoever).

 

[Ken M]

Oops....my misread

Must disengage when the rider stops pedaling or when brakes are engaged. I would read that as “pedal assist has the motor stop when you stop pedaling, or throttle bikes need to have a brake cutoff”. I don’t see how that bans cruise control. It just needs to shut off when you grab the brakes (which is an excellent idea if you actually have to have cruise control on a bike; a motor system that can be set to cruise sans rider input and remains engaged even in an emergency stop is absolutely a vehicle that should not be on any public infrastructure whatsoever).

.