E-bikes are not toys

May 9, 2024
May 9, 2024 Updated Apr 14, 2025
3

Editor,

Regarding the May 6 article “Safety hazard or sustainable transportation,” e-Bikes are motor vehicles … and should be treated as such. I’ve seen these motorcycles (yes, motorcycles) driven speeds of 40 mph on the street, driven by children.

(3) comments

John Baker May 9, 2024 4:19pm

Let's clarify terms here. There are "Class 1" ebikes, whose motors cut off at 20 mph -- slower than many fit cyclists can hit on flat grounds -- that can and should be allowed on bike trails and in bike lanes. And then there are "Class 2," (as well as unclassified/unregulated) bikes that should be in the streets. As an owner of a Class 1 bike who uses the motor mainly to get over the hills in South City, I've no shame in saying regulate Class 2s (license? sure), but Class 1s are something the community needs more of.

KDM May 9, 2024 9:16am

CA legislators made a mistake by classifying e-bikes as "bicycles" so that they could legally use the bike lanes on streets. Electric motors are still motors. Instead of trying to redefine bicycles, the legislature should have changed the criteria for bike-lanes to allow e-power assist.

JustMike650 May 9, 2024 12:25pm

The amount of bicycles, electric scooters, gas scooters, Segways, and skateboards that can be found on every sidewalk in San Mateo, Belmont and San Carlos is amazingly frustrating.

Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal.

Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.

We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.

A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!