Where Does the Electric Bike Belong?
The law regards the 'electric-assisted' (WA and OR) or 'motorized' (CA) bicycle as a non-motorized vehicle. Laws in other states and local ordinances are similar. Federal law PL107-319 in the U.S. (and a corresponding in Canada) defines the electric-assisted bicycle as a non-motorized vehicle and places it under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (rather than DOT). See Note below for Extracts from 46.04 RCW (Revised Code of Washington).
As far as who may be welcome to ride where others pedal the following questions may want to be addressed:
(a)
How ought any cyclist ride—whether his or her bicycle is pedal-only
or electric-assisted—in bike lanes and on bike trails (not presumed
to be suggested here),
and
(b)
Are all electric-assisted bicycles alike as far as fitting in?
U.S. law curiously defines as a 'bicycle' an electric two or three wheeler capable of 20 mph even without pedaling, and allows up to 750 (and in instances 1,000) Watt of power.
How many of us cyclists are capable, except momentarily, of pedaling 20 mph? Not many. The majority of recreational riders rather seem to glide along at or below 15 mph.
How many of us are capable of pedaling 750 or 1,000 W, except momentarily? Very few, if any. Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck and Lance Armstrong (this year's podium finishers in the Le Tour de France) can amazingly pedal at or slightly above above 400 W for an hour or two and above 500 W in spurts.
As far as mortals many of us may rather prefer pedaling about 80 W, which suffices to propel us on level ground at around 14 mph. Pedaling concurrently with a 'mere' 250 W motor thus adds multiples of power.
The law further allows power application by a lever or twist grip throttle (as found on a moped and motorcycle) only: No pedaling is required for the motor power to come on and to stay on. Wow, a bicycle that need not to be pedaled. Coming up next: The self chewing gum.
Clearly the U.S. legislation was promoted by interests wanting to create a loop hole, i.e. let's call a bicycle something that is not rationally a bicycle at all. But then Reality should never be allowed to interfere with our consumer wishes.
Who, in our celebrity culture, cares about the opinion of one mere electric bike dealer in Seattle? While it seemed like my dog did nod when I wrote this perhaps no one.
But while Americans may not care much about the the opinion of the rest of the world either (although seemingly as things are going at our own peril) here is nevertheless with apologies how the rest of the world views the electric bicycle as per Wikipedia:
The maximum power allowed in the European Union for electric bicycles is 250 W, with a maximum assisted speed of 25 km/h. ... the electric motor must be activated by the rider's pedaling effort and the power must cut out completely whenever the rider stops pedalling.
25 km/h equals of course about 15 mph.
With what category of electric bike would cyclists prefer to share a bike lane or bike trail? With what category of electric bike would walkers and runners prefer to share an all purpose trail? The type that flies by at 20 mph (without pedaling and with the rider exerting no more physical effort that twisting a throttle or pushing a lever) or a pedal activated one capable of about 15 mph?
Note:
Extracts from 46.04 RCW (Revised Code of Washington)
Electric-assisted bicycle means a bicycle with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an electric motor. The electric-assisted bicycle's electric motor must have a power output of no more than one thousand Watts, be incapable of propelling the device at a speed of no more than twenty miles per hour on level ground, and incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power alone is used to propel the device beyond twenty miles per hour.
No driver's license is required for operation of an electric-assisted bicycle.
Persons under sixteen years of age may not operate an electric-assisted bicycle.
The provisions (RCW 46.16.010) relating to
a current and proper vehicle license and display vehicle license number plates.... shall not apply to (a) Electric-assisted bicycles.
Persons operating electric-assisted bicycles shall comply with all laws and regulations related to the use of bicycle helmets.
Operation of a moped or an electric-assisted bicycle on a fully controlled limited access highway or a sidewalk is unlawful.
Electric-assisted bicycles may be operated on a multipurpose trail or bicycle lane, but local jurisdictions may restrict or otherwise limit the access of electric-assisted bicycles.
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