Yer Kiddin', Right???

[Richbaker]

New law here. All electric bikes now have to be registered and insured. The last free vehicle is gone.

What is your/their definition of "electric bikes"?

 

[Richbaker]

They should be. There is a thing that fraudsters do. I know because it happened to me. A bicyclist ran into the right front of my truck, very near the front. I was stopped waiting for traffic to clear. He hit the truck and fell down. Paramedics came, he went to the ER, all the tests showed literally no injury.

Next day his lawyer contacted my insurance claiming life threatening and altering injuries. Long story short, my insurance settled (now you know why your insurance is so high). This even though the impact marks on the truck, and multiple eye witnesses stated he hit me while riding his bicycle on the side walk, not the street.

So what is the thing that fraudsters do? They look for vehicles that have company logos on the door. Because they know they have very high dollar insurance limits. And yes, we removed all of the company info from our vehicles.

This did cause a problem because some companies required your business name, contractor license and so forth on your vehicle. A simple magnetic sign took care of that.

Oh, by the way, my insurance found that the individual had seven previous bicycle versus pickup (not just vehicle, but pickups specifically) claims. All against company owned vehicles. Why did they settle? Because they knew the odds of winning in court were miniscule. Jurors always seem to be sympathetic toward "injured" bicyclists and pedestrians.

Why didn't the cop write the "cyclist" a ticket? A coworker had a similar Incident, cop wrote the bicycle up for failure to yield with accident, and court found the "cyclist" guilty. He had to pay restitution to coworker...

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

What is your/their definition of "electric bikes"?

They define it as a bicycle with pedals and an electric motor. Whether as a primary drive or one of the older front wheel roller "assist" types. Top speed is SUPPOSED to be 25mph ( I've seen them do 45-50). Mopeds are motorcycles with pedals, engine max at 48cc, same max speed (and same mods made by owners, or imports that do 50) Both need lights and such to be street legal. Another difference between the two is that if one doesn't have a drivers' license one must have a Moped license. No license yet required for e-bikes, but I;m sure it;s coming soon. I'm still not sure if they classify electric scooters - max speed 15 mph with the above, or with those electric wheelchairs for those who can't walk well. I believe it's the latter, but not confirming.

 

[Richbaker]

They define it as a bicycle with pedals and an electric motor. Whether as a primary drive or one of the older front wheel roller "assist" types. Top speed is SUPPOSED to be 25mph ( I've seen them do 45-50). Mopeds are motorcycles with pedals, engine max at 48cc, same max speed (and same mods made by owners, or imports that do 50) Both need lights and such to be street legal. Another difference between the two is that if one doesn't have a drivers' license one must have a Moped license. No license yet required for e-bikes, but I;m sure it;s coming soon. I'm still not sure if they classify electric scooters - max speed 15 mph with the above, or with those electric wheelchairs for those who can't walk well. I believe it's the latter, but not confirming.

They need to modify the ebike def. An ebike with pedals and NO throttle should be legal, most are limited to under 25mph. An ebike with pedals and a throttle are usually the ones that go so fast.
I have an eMTB, no throttle, speed limited to 18mph, iirc... Normal pedal road bikes will go a lot faster.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

They need to modify the ebike def. An ebike with pedals and NO throttle should be legal, most are limited to under 25mph. An ebike with pedals and a throttle are usually the ones that go so fast.
I have an eMTB, no throttle, speed limited to 18mph, iirc... Normal pedal road bikes will go a lot faster.

How does no throttle work? Is speed is controlled by brakes alone? Lotta wear.

 

[Richbaker]

How does no throttle work? Is speed is controlled by brakes alone? Lotta wear.

Torque sensors in the pedal assembly control the motor. There are various levels of assist programmed in the control panel. The harder you pedal the more the motor provides assistance, up to the speed allowed by government regulations.
Do some research, there's plenty of info out there....

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Torque sensors in the pedal assembly control the motor. There are various levels of assist programmed in the control panel. The harder you pedal the more the motor provides assistance, up to the speed allowed by government regulations.
Do some research, there's plenty of info out there....

I will. I have an Z-er that's looking. Thank you.