ebikes on the Shore

You should always assume that everyone around you is going to do the absolute dumbest thing they could possibly do at any given time.

People are fucking stupid.

Posted by: Hepcat

My buddy is so hot to get one of those Super 73's.

They're the dumbest shit ever. 

Honestly they're pretty kooky. But ripping to get the mail or items from the corner store. Or beach days would be hype.

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: tungsten

I almost got mowed down last wk stepping across bike path at Burrard Civic by a not so pretend 200+ lb dude and his gasoline power assist "bike".

These things tend to happen when someone doesn't pay attention to what's happening around them.

I've had multiple incidents in the bikes lanes with both pedestrians and other cyclists not paying attention to what they're doing. One of the worst is cyclists at a cross street on a red light turning into the bike lanes. There's been a few times where I've come close to smoking someone and it's only because I'm scanning the intersections for people pulling stupid shit that I've been able to avoid running someone over.

Guy was going at least 30kph. Thought the sound was someone flushing an outboard. It's a slow zone through what is essentially a parking lot ffs and cyclists supposed to yield.

Fucker almost clotheslined him self on my whisker-pole. Stupid fat fuck. I hope he gets covid.

Posted by: tungsten

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: tungsten

I almost got mowed down last wk stepping across bike path at Burrard Civic by a not so pretend 200+ lb dude and his gasoline power assist "bike".

These things tend to happen when someone doesn't pay attention to what's happening around them.

I've had multiple incidents in the bikes lanes with both pedestrians and other cyclists not paying attention to what they're doing. One of the worst is cyclists at a cross street on a red light turning into the bike lanes. There's been a few times where I've come close to smoking someone and it's only because I'm scanning the intersections for people pulling stupid shit that I've been able to avoid running someone over.

Guy was going at least 30kph. Thought the sound was someone flushing an outboard. It's a slow zone through what is essentially a parking lot ffs and cyclists supposed to yield.

Fucker almost clotheslined him self on my whisker-pole. Stupid fat fuck. I hope he gets covid.

🤣 

Witnessed a Sur Ron on the narrow shared pedestrian/cyclist path this week doing probably 50mph (80km/h)+ . I was driving parallel on the road doing 35mph and he went by like I was standing still. Full moto gear, just out for a murderous commute. (Still probably burning less carbon than me though... 🤔 ).

It's a lot to expect everyone to be constantly vigilant for things that are this far outside of the norm. 

On vacation recently we saw a sign in Santa Monica in all caps 3 stories tall reminding electric scooters to stay the fuck off the sidewalk. 😅

One comment Chris porter made about ebikes on the recent nsmb interview was the fact that we are still waiting for our first ebike vs pedestrian fatality. As soon as that happens, their right to paths/trails will be in the hands of the courts.

I'm a pretty fast/aggressive city cyclist who has been riding for over 3 decades and those guys pass me on the city bike paths all the time. I can guarantee you that most of them don't have the bike handling skill to be traveling that fast on a busy city path. The meat motor is a great way to keep unskilled riders going an appropriate speed for their ability.

Maybe off topic but I had a real laugh on Thursday on the to site. A guy on one of thos electric stand up unicycle things in a full face and full leathers! WTF?

Posted by: Hepcat

It's a lot to expect everyone to be constantly vigilant for things that are this far outside of the norm.

Fair point, but it might pay to be on the lookout for bikes when doing things like I dunno, crossing a bike path maybe?

I did something stupid when I first got my ebike.  Was riding up a steep hill about 25km/h on the sidewalk.  Postal worker stepped out of a hedged fence without checking and I came close to smoking him and we both apologized to each other.  I learned not to do that and hopefully he pokes his head out before proceeding.

Posted by: RAHrider

I can guarantee you that most of them don't have the bike handling skill to be traveling that fast on a busy city path. The meat motor is a great way to keep unskilled riders going an appropriate speed for their ability.

See people flying 30km+ on the throttle ebikes who are way outside their comfort zone. Surprised there isn't more carnage up to this point. 

Don't wanna stop the ebike commuter trend I think it's great. It's just a 200 pound replica emotobike with a tiny little crankset that won't push the bike isn't a bicycle. So what is the solution?

Posted by: bux-bux

Posted by: RAHrider

I can guarantee you that most of them don't have the bike handling skill to be traveling that fast on a busy city path. The meat motor is a great way to keep unskilled riders going an appropriate speed for their ability.

See people flying 30km+ on the throttle ebikes who are way outside their comfort zone. Surprised there isn't more carnage up to this point. 

Don't wanna stop the ebike commuter trend I think it's great. It's just a 200 pound replica emotobike with a tiny little crankset that won't push the bike isn't a bicycle. So what is the solution?

Update the current laws in step with the progression of ebikes.  Education and enforcement would help a lot here too. For example, why are the companies that are currently selling illegal in BC (throttle operated) ebikes allowed to do so? I wonder how many of those customers who have bought their bikes know that they are illegal to ride on the streets?  There are a at least two brands that I see everyday on the bike route, which are 100% illegal under the current laws. 

Update the laws, educate the buyers/users, and enforce the laws. Im sure if word got out that people riding a certain brand of ebike were starting to get $600 tickets (which is the fine for the throttle operated ones), that there would be a better discussion going on.

Posted by: shoreboy

Posted by: bux-bux

Posted by: RAHrider

I can guarantee you that most of them don't have the bike handling skill to be traveling that fast on a busy city path. The meat motor is a great way to keep unskilled riders going an appropriate speed for their ability.

See people flying 30km+ on the throttle ebikes who are way outside their comfort zone. Surprised there isn't more carnage up to this point. 

Don't wanna stop the ebike commuter trend I think it's great. It's just a 200 pound replica emotobike with a tiny little crankset that won't push the bike isn't a bicycle. So what is the solution?

Update the current laws in step with the progression of ebikes.  Education and enforcement would help a lot here too. For example, why are the companies that are currently selling illegal in BC (throttle operated) ebikes allowed to do so? I wonder how many of those customers who have bought their bikes know that they are illegal to ride on the streets?  There are a at least two brands that I see everyday on the bike route, which are 100% illegal under the current laws. 

Update the laws, educate the buyers/users, and enforce the laws. Im sure if word got out that people riding a certain brand of ebike were starting to get $600 tickets (which is the fine for the throttle operated ones), that there would be a better discussion going on.

When I was 16 and couldn't afford a car, I looked long and hard at gas mopeds. They are street legal and very affordable. I have absolutely no issue with electric mopeds. The gas mopeds had useless pedals as well. I don't particularly want to see gas mopeds on the bike paths, so I dont really want most of the emopeds there either. 

I agree, update the laws, enforce them and get the right vehicles in the correct lanes. 

Similarly I shouldn't ride my carbon road bike on the sea wall unless I am willing to slow down (which I'm not), so I ride on the road with the cars.

Just so I'm not posting a giant quote. Isn't the law that anything under 50cc doesn't require a motorcycle license? Still requires plates and insurance no? I'm pretty sure I can't take a 50cc minibike/vespa with no plates and insurance and tear around the city in traffic

Posted by: bux-bux

Just so I'm not posting a giant quote. Isn't the law that anything under 50cc doesn't require a motorcycle license? Still requires plates and insurance no? I'm pretty sure I can't take a 50cc minibike/vespa with no plates and insurance and tear around the city in traffic

You are correct, anything 50cc and over requires plates and insurance. Anything under that spec, is not insurable and is therefore deemed illegal to ride on public roads. The exceptions to this are pedal assist e-bikes that do NOT have a throttle and currently the stand up electric scooters are undergoing a 'trial' period in Vancouver and a few other municipalities.

Motorinos, Rad Power Bikes, One-Wheels, SmartWheels, electric skateboards and other variations of these are all illegal on public streets (in Vancouver at least) the way the laws are currently written.

Posted by: shoreboy

Posted by: bux-bux

The exceptions to this are pedal assist e-bikes that do NOT have a throttle and currently the stand up electric scooters are undergoing a 'trial' period in Vancouver and a few other municipalities.

Motorinos, Rad Power Bikes, One-Wheels, SmartWheels, electric skateboards and other variations of these are all illegal on public streets (in Vancouver at least) the way the laws are currently written.

Incorrect. Canada (and BC) only regulate the power (500 W) and motor cutout speed (32 km/h). There is no regulation as to whether an ebike can or can't have a throttle that allows the motor to work without pedaling. 

https://ebikebc.com/ebike-regulations-in-british-columbia/

https://www.icbc.com/vehicle-registration/specialty-vehicles/Low-powered-vehicles/Pages/Electric-bikes.aspx

https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/151_2002