Virginia introduces 3-class ebike & cyclist protection legislation

[Ken M]

Amazing that CPSC compliant ebikes have the power of an average 2 slice toaster and yet lawmakers feel they have to different them from just a bike for traffic and usage laws.

I will keep posting this because the 3-class table was promoted via money from EU so they could have the US market harmonized for ebike sales. It's had/has nothing to do with safety. Law makers were dupped by paid lobbyists but in this case the 3-class table actually conflicts with the federal definition and that may be it's undoing. We'll see.

 

[kmccune]

There is a place for some of these regulations, I do not want to open the "Daily Fishwrapper" and read an elderly Pedestrian was killed in a crosswalk when an Ebike cyclist going an estimated 40 mph slammed into Her- no word on the condition of the cyclist.I understand the allure of speed and power, there is such a thing as electric motorcycles and trail bikes now and some of those trail bikes will literally scoot out from under you if you are not hanging on( warp speed acceleration)Lets try to work with the lawmakers.
Can't write more the the "Meer-Kittens" are invading my keyboard. Do not hate me I am trying to be sensible, we cannot let a few spoill it for everyone and believe me VA can be onerous.

 

[Dewey]

Due to the packed and shortened legislative agenda in Virginia Senator Surovell opted not to reintroduce his Contributory Negligence reform bill this year, but he promises to do so next year. Just 3 states in the union still have this unfair regulation in their statute book as DC got rid of it last month. The only politicians who oppose reform are in the pocket of the auto insurance industry. Roll on 2022

 

[kmccune]

Due to the packed and shortened legislative agenda in Virginia Senator Surovell opted not to reintroduce his Contributory Negligence reform bill this year, but he promises to do so next year. Just 3 states in the union still have this unfair regulation in their statute book as DC got rid of it last month. The only politicians who oppose reform are in the pocket of the auto insurance industry. Roll on 2022

Our Governor is helping the common Folks a bit, they are gradually relaxing the punitive nature of the courts.Prison really turned into a real mess around 2011 , this state needs to get with the times

 

[Ken M]

That's too bad. 1000w/25mph seems like a very reasonable set of regs to have had in force all these years. Similar to ours here in OR except for the 25mph as we are limited to 20mph. PFB has knocked on our doors and were turned back via letters of protest from existing e bike businesses that are mainly in the prime urban area of Portland that have modeled off of our existing legislation that would limit their ability to keep their business as is if we go to the Class system that is being promoted by the bicycle industry lobbying arms BPSC and PFB. While the class laws fit their business models to a T so that they don't have to do much more than some software updates and a different plug on their chargers of the EU reg bikes that are selling in way bigger numbers across the pond not everyone is in business to support the Bicycle Industrial Complex.

Bill SB659 and SB437 sound like good ones to get into law however.

You will like my post I believe...Please share this with others ...

Statement Regarding Potential CPSC Ebike Law Preemption of 3-class Legislation

I’m releasing this statement to inform the media, industry and consumers that I have filed a “petition for preemption” with the CPSC regarding the “3-Class” E-Bike state legislation. If the petition is determined to have legal merit by CPSC General Counsel, the 3-Class legislation adopted by 26...

electricbikereview.com

 

[jabberwocky]

As a Virginia resident who finds the 3 class system has done wonders for legal access, what the hell is undoing it supposed to accomplish?

 

[BEC111]

As a Virginia resident who finds the 3 class system has done wonders for legal access, what the hell is undoing it supposed to accomplish?

Good question.

 

[kmccune]

There are always legislatures who will sponsor an "unenforced law", I can think of at least one sponsored by a local politician( lights on when wipers are on) I have never seen enforced.
Its hard for me to get through a day without breaking some law or the other.( Honestly believe our legal code needs to go back to the "early ten" and build on them.)

 

[Asher]

"Virginia lawmakers passed a bill that requires drivers to switch lanes when passing a cyclist on the road if three feet cannot be maintained.

Additionally, the bill says two cyclists can now ride abreast in a lane."

Virginia lawmakers pass new rules to protect bicyclists on the road

A new bill aims to make it safer for drivers and cyclists to share the road.

www.wsls.com

 

[kmccune]

"Virginia lawmakers passed a bill that requires drivers to switch lanes when passing a cyclist on the road if three feet cannot be maintained.

Additionally, the bill says two cyclists can now ride abreast in a lane."

Virginia lawmakers pass new rules to protect bicyclists on the road

A new bill aims to make it safer for drivers and cyclists to share the road.

www.wsls.com

I warn and give them plenty of room, most cyclists that come thru here are courteous and respectful, this a great idea.

 

[zzRider]

Our Governor is helping the common Folks a bit, they are gradually relaxing the punitive nature of the courts.Prison really turned into a real mess around 2011 , this state needs to get with the times

Commit the crime, do the time. Criminals are emboldened when given light sentences.

 

[zzRider]

Additionally, the bill says two cyclists can now ride abreast in a lane."

Virginia lawmakers pass new rules to protect bicyclists on the road

A new bill aims to make it safer for drivers and cyclists to share the road.

www.wsls.com

That is stupid. It will give less room for cars to pass cyclists.

 

[kmccune]

Commit the crime, do the time. Criminals are emboldened when given light sentences.

Make the punishment fit the crime , some people get away with murder and large things,.A good person should get one chance, especially if they are ignorant of the law. You shouldn't go to prison because the CA and Judge do not like you, If the community is willing to be responsible for the perp, the perp should get probation. If the person violates the law after that all bets are off. I have a Libertarian view of the "Law".
There are so many laws now, the average person will commit a "law" unwittingly during most days, if a "State Trooper" pulls you over you probably going to get a ticket, pure and simple and do not think for a minute they wouldn't ticket cyclists.
Do not be a "patsy" for the state, the minute everything is illegal they will come for you, and its time the stupid "pot laws" are revised( even though I do not partake od the demon weed)

 

[Mulezen]

New Virginia laws aimed at boosting safety for cyclists start July 1 - WTOP News

Bicycle safety is a constant concern across the D.C. area. Two new Virginia laws going into effect on July 1 aim to address it.

wtop.com

 

[J.R.]

Riders, riding abreast are 'taking the lane'. For a lot of people this is a controversial safety measure. I don't know if taking the lane came from cycling or motorcycling, but its practiced and taught by both. The idea is to take control of the entire lane you occupy, become as conspicuous as possible and force other vehicles to make a deliberate lane change to pass. When a driver has to change lanes, theoretically they have to slow, check their mirrors and look to see if there's room to change lanes safely. With all that going on, the idea is drivers will take deliberate measures to safely pass and not try to squeeze between a bike and another vehicle to pass. Two vehicles (bike and car) occupying the same lane often ends badly. Two bikes abreast, taking the lane, makes it more likely another vehicle will change lanes to pass.

I'm not suggesting anyone ride in any way they feel is unsafe. I'm just pointing out the theory behind this. Probably 99% of the time car drivers will pass safely. It will anger and frustrate a lot of drivers. Statistics do show it works. That 1% of the time it doesn't... It is a lot easier for a motorcyclist to take the lane, as they have the power to take an evasive maneuver. I guess this two abreast law is cheaper than building bike lanes

Be careful out there!

 

[jabberwocky]

Taking the lane always needs to be combined with good situational awareness. Theres always gonna be some driver who does something batshit stupid, but if you're away from the shoulder and see it coming you have room to move right and hopefully avoid it. As someone who bike commuted for 15 years on some very bike unfriendly roads, it does make a huge difference (moving right does, at some point, dramatically increase close passes, because you are in a position where drivers stop paying attention to you).

Good bike infra is always the ideal solution.

As a VA resident, the gnashing of teeth over this from non-cyclists has been entertaining over the past few weeks. Its a move in the right direction, though it would take police enforcement to have a serious effect and that will never happen.

 

[Ken M]

As a Virginia resident who finds the 3 class system has done wonders for legal access, what the hell is undoing it supposed to accomplish?

3-class legislation in reality did nothing for access if the states paid attention that a federally compliant LSEB is a "bike" by federal statute. Sadly some states cling to the old NHTSA days prior to 2002 that an ebike was considered motorized vehicle and that mindset didn't change with the passing of HR727 and moving LSEB to CPSC jurisdiction.