eBikes... Not Everyone LOVES eBikes... I have nothing against eBikes... it is the eBike riders that are pissing me off...
WaPo Article about eBikes
"eBikes are popular but..."
and that is a big but
eBikes
eBikes are a wonderful car alternative
eBikes are not a bicycle alternative
eBikes
eBikes are motorcycles
it is simple
there is a bicycle... you put a motor on it... it becomes a motorcycle
the "e"
the "e" powers the motor
do not be fooled
and yes
remember
Electricity must be created
so...
eBikes may be fueled by coal
eBikes are not sounding as clean energy as they claimed
there are so many places where the eBike makes sense
in Washington DC the parents of small children have adopted various cargo eBikes as a car alternative for kid drop off and pick up
this is great... but often at other people's expense
ironically...
a class of people who might have once been the slowest riders on the bicycle path\bicycle trail are now the fastest
often moving like bullies
zigging in and out of on coming pedestrian and cycling traffic
HOGGING THE TRAIL!
going faster than any responsible rider should go in these shared space
so...
I am of the belief that the eBike has so many wonderful uses for so many situations
but
the motor and the speed play into our human nature
everyone pushes their eBike to MAXIMUM SPEED
as that is our nature
we are always behind schedule... we are always trying to make good time... we are always running late and trying to make it there on time
those elements create a hazard
a hazard when a driver behaves like such
a hazard when an eBiker behaves like such
DAILY... yes DAILY I have near misses with eBikers
coming head on to me on the shared multi use bike trail
or passing me close and unexpected with no warning in the bike lane
I think that eBikes should move more like cars and motorcycles
sure the motorcycle can split lanes
but the motorcycle should not enter the bike lane
the motorcycle should most definitely not traverse the separated bike path
no... never
agreed
now we just have to agree that the eBike is a Motorcycle,