Currently the City and folks that try to think for the City are trying to figure out whether ebikes with a throttle should be allowed on multi-use paths. The need for that decision goes back to the “class system” established for ebikes in this country.
Cities/other governmental units and those that try to think for them all over the country are trying to figure out the same thing. Some have said “no” to Class 2 bikes, almost all have said “no” to Class 3, but how do we enforce such things and so on and so on and so on.
It’s like government is putting together a dinner party and this is the conversation starter before we transition to playing Pictionary as the wine kicks in. So what should our fair City do? And does it matter?
My answer: *We should all move to Europe. Or at least certain countries in Europe.
Why Europe? Because many countries in Europe (e.g., France) limit ebike speeds, regardless of “class,” to 25 KPH, i.e., just over 15 MPH. So why didn’t we do that? Why the fuck are we allowing bicycles to go 28 fucking miles per hour? Throttle or no throttle? What gang of speed demons set this system up in the first place?
I realize that not everyone is agreement with my contention that the U.S. ebike class system is really fucking stupid. Some existing/potential cyclists want to go as generally fast as drivers (or thereabouts) and want to get up to speed as fast as that little throttle will allow. I know…they pass me on the multi-use path…easily.
I honestly don’t know what to say to such people. My inclination is to make the observation “that’s not cycling, that mopeding” and from what I’ve read such observations are classist, sexist, ageist, ableist, racist, not to mention UnAmerican, because…freedom and freedom means being able to go as fast as fucking possible.
So my personal feeling that we should limit all ebikes to 15 mph and stop worrying about whether they can or can’t go multi-use paths is almost as unpopular as my concomitant contention that we should limits all motor vehicles to, say, 30 mph or 35 mph…tops. And/or have geo-fencing for vehicles that limit then to 20 mph within a city’s limits.
Yeah, that’s gonna happen anytime soon in Freedomland.
Hence, the upshot is that I’m not really participant in the ebike on multi-use path debate. I appreciate the discussion and find it makes for a lovely governmental dinner party, but it seems to me we’re arguing about the wrong thing, namely that we should instead be arguing about whether we’re moving to France or Portugal.
Vive le Pictogramme!
*This tends to be my answer for almost any transportation question.
Better Burque 
This is the best perspective yet on what we really should be discussing about e-bikes. You’re right. There’s a need for a boost sometimes, but we don’t need any more fast moving modes of transportation on our roadways and trails. We’ve pretty much got that element down already and it hasn’t turned out well. E-bikes’ speed needs to be limited, not their use of our trails once that’s in place.
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About a month ago I was riding at a brisk pace Northward from Montano to Alameda on the RG path on my 1999 Riv Road fixed gear with resurrected 1937 SA TC hub when all of a sudden a Thing whizzed passed on my left at what I swear was a 30-mph differential and disappeared in an instant around a bend about 1/4 mile up the path. Silent, so electric, and I swear again that it must have been traveling at 50 mph. I got to the Alameda trailhead half hoping I’d spot the fellow (the almost subliminal glimpse I got showed a male, young, dark hair, on dark, neutral-colored vehicle) so that I could unload my irritation. My other half hoped I’d find rider and machine off into the cottonwoods after failing to make a curve because of excessive speed.
I have to say, though, that most eBikes I see on the path doddle along at 15 mph and cause no problems — tho’ on Friday I was again riding North on the same trail and a youngster traveling South on one of those fat-tired ebikes pulled out to pass a pedestrian. My martial instincts kicked in and I agressively held to the center of my lane, but well in advance of imminent collision the ebiker deviated onto the dirt verge to pass on my right.
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*** The future of Albuquerque’s bike paths will be decided THIS coming Wednesday, MARCH 27th – 2024, 5pm @ the CABQ Government Center Building, ONE Civic Plaza, 9th Floor / Suite 9081. ***
The NATIONAL organization, People For Bikes just anounced on March 18th/2024 that they are putting forth a survey to ALL 50 states, counties and municipalities and ALL National bike/e-bike industry manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, retailers and advocacy & trade groups with the intent of gathering consensus for NATIONAL guidelines for emerging e-bike legislation.
If you beleive, as I do, that the current proposal, as of March 19th/2024, to change the current laws governing our cities bike paths should be tabled, until such time as the results of the largest bicycle advocacy group in this countries survey is completed by May 15th/2024, as well as a much more thorough look at current policy in all 50 states is done and the citizens of Albuquerque have been given more than a weeks time to let their voices on this proposed legislation be heard, THEN SHOW UP & Let YOUR VOICE Be Heard NOW!!! This is it people! There’s No Do-Overs! You’re either there or your not. El Burqueńo
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