A new bill introduced in the Oregon Legislature aims to prohibit the operation of Class 3 electric-assisted bicycles on sidewalks, bicycle lanes, & bike paths.
Because they will just single out every apparent ebike rider, which will of course result in people with compliant ebikes (and probably a non-zero number of traditional unpowered bicycles) getting harassed for no good reason.
Would it not make more sense to just have a speed limit?
A lot of places don’t allow them on sidewalks at all.
Bikes are not allowed on side walks in most places, ebike or other wise. Side walks are for walking.
Harder for them to police I guess?
How would it be harder to police than trying to identify a class 3 ebike?
Because they will just single out every apparent ebike rider, which will of course result in people with compliant ebikes (and probably a non-zero number of traditional unpowered bicycles) getting harassed for no good reason.
Most class 3s look like standard road bikes. Class 2s generally look like mopeds, but if it has a throttle it’s limited to 20mph.
Cycling associations lobby against that, they are not stronger than the car lobby, but they definitely exist.