e-Bikes – Let’s talk

[zsionakides]

@Dewey 194330 wrote:

Arlington County Board vote to pass the Micromobility Ordinance. ebikes that meet Virginia state definition of a power assisted electric bicycle (up to 1,000w, 25mph) are permitted to ride on County multi use trails, 20mph trail speed limit, but also a new 6mph speed limit applies to ebikes riding on County sidewalks, and no sidewalk riding where a PBL is in place https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/county-board-votes-to-regulate-e-scooters/

It says all these devices require a speedometer, which is not too cheap an add-on. Also I would be curious about using a speedometer with an electric skateboard. I guess you would have to carry it while riding or use a wearable.

Either way, that probably opens a fair bit of liability if you are at fault in an accident and donÂ’t have one or canÂ’t prove you were under the speed limit.

[dasgeh]

@zsionakides 194332 wrote:

It says all these devices require a speedometer, which is not too cheap an add-on. Also I would be curious about using a speedometer with an electric skateboard. I guess you would have to carry it while riding or use a wearable.

The proposed ordinance only required speedometers on the shared devices. I don’t know if they amended on dias (haven’t watched yet), but I don’t read Virginia’s law to allow give them that authority. Of course, I don’t see where they get the authority for the speed lmiit or sidewalk ban for ebikes so…

[Dewey]

The Post’s Dr Gridlock reports DDOT has announced two private companies have been awarded permits to operate dockless ebikes in DC next year, with up to 5,000 ebikes up from the current 1,000 JUMP bikes. Uber/JUMP have had their permit renewed, the new entrant is Helbiz. The Post mentions Cllr Cheh walked back her scooter regulation, but both that bill and another need to be passed in some amended form to update the city’s municipal regulations for ebikes and scooters to enable legal access to sidewalks and multi-use paths outside the CBD and so their riders are treated more like pedal cyclists with regards to recourse against drivers insurance in the event of a collision with a car.

Meanwhile Fairfax County quickly followed Arlington issuing new regulations for dockless scooters and ebikes, permitting them to ride on multi-use paths and sidewalks. The final piece is for the District to legalize ebike and scooter commuters on the other Potomac bridge side paths (Memorial Bridge is NPS so is a legal crossing for ebikes).

[Dewey]

BPSA/People for Bikes announces Virginia is one of 14 state assemblies that will be lobbied to adopt the 3-class model ebike legislation in 2020

[Crickey7]

This one’s a total head scratcher. “Electric-scooter rentals will not be coming to New York and the electric bicycles favored by New York City delivery workers will remain illegal after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have legalized both types of battery-powered transport. . . ‘Failure to include these basic measures renders this legislation fatally flawed,’ the governor said in his veto message. He specifically referred to the lack of a requirement that riders of the battery-powered conveyances wear helmets as one of his main objections.”

Scientific and statistical illiteracy wins.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/26/nyregion/Ebikes-scooters-Bill-ny.html

[huskerdont]

@Crickey7 195391 wrote:

This one’s a total head scratcher. “Electric-scooter rentals will not be coming to New York and the electric bicycles favored by New York City delivery workers will remain illegal after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have legalized both types of battery-powered transport. . . ‘Failure to include these basic measures renders this legislation fatally flawed,’ the governor said in his veto message. He specifically referred to the lack of a requirement that riders of the battery-powered conveyances wear helmets as one of his main objections.”

Scientific and statistical illiteracy wins.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/26/nyregion/Ebikes-scooters-Bill-ny.html

‘“Helmets are a common-sense requirement that should be imposed on operators of these vehicles to protect public safety,” Mr. Cuomo said, adding that he looked forward “to continuing this discussion in the 2020 legislative session.”’

Cuomo needs to be required to wear a helmet for walking and driving/being a passenger in his limo. I mean, it’s just “common sense” that will “protect public safety.”*

*Protect public safety is stupid too. You either protect the public, or ensure its safety, but you don’t protect safety. Makes no sense.

[mstone]

helmets are a good excuse for killing a bill you wanted to kill anyway

[buschwacker]

I don’t understand the backlash. Is it because of the proliferation of NYC delivery ebikes?

[Crickey7]

None of it makes any sense. There are tens of thousands of electric bikes in NYC right now, largely piloted by poorer workers who are subject at any time to having the police confiscate their vehicle, or, if (or more likely, when) it gets stolen, they cannot look the police to help recover a vehicle they could not legally own anyway. The ban is pretty evil.

[Dewey]

The NY Post reported Gov Cuomo’s veto was a result of a local political squabble with the bill’s sponsor NY State Sen Ramos over remarks she made to the NY Times about something completely unrelated to ebikes. Chris Nolte owner of Propel Bikes in Brooklyn and long-time New York ebike campaigner posted a video a couple of weeks ago where he talked about renewing the campaign in Albany although he recently moved to Santa Monica, CA, so may not be able to be so involved while lobbying from a distance. Meanwhile Senator Ramos tweeted she would reintroduce her bill, though Cuomo will likely object again unless it is rewritten to include the helmet, lights & bell requirements he is pushing for. The bill included problematic wording affecting family riders and commuters, by prohibiting passengers under 16 years old on an ebike that would have affected cargo bikes, and banning ebikes from the Hudson River Greenway which is a safe main arterial bicycle commuter route on Manhattan Island, I don’t know if any of this can be argued out and corrected before a new bill is passed.

[Dewey]

HB543 & SB871 introduce the BPSA/PfB 3-class model ebike legislation for consideration in 2020 by the Virginia general assembly.
This would change several aspects of operating an ebike in the state of Virginia including:
– introduce the 3 Class ebike definitions & labeling
– reduce permitted peak power from 1,000w to 750w
– increase top speed, where permitted, from 25mph to 28mph (Class 3 only)
– permit ebikes to ride on bicycle and shared-use paths, while reserving the right for localities and state agencies to restrict or ban ebikes
– mandatory helmet wearing while riding a Class 3 ebike

Another bill SB659 would change the contributory negligence legal standard in auto collisions with bicycles, pedestrians, ebikes and other vulnerable road users. If adopted this would provide similar legal protections with regard to making claims against drivers insurers that cyclists in DC won under the 2016 Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act

And SB437 would make it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a careless or distracted driver to inflict injury on pedestrians and cyclists (including ebikes) legally on the highway

[Dewey]

Update: HB543 & SB871 passed both the House and Senate and are being sent to the Governor for his signature, assuming he signs it the 3-class BPSA/PfB model ebike legislation should pass into Virginia law from July 1, 2020.

SB659 died in the judiciary committee, hopefully the bill’s sponsor Senator Surovell will try again next year.

SB437 passed the senate so presumably will next be sent to the House for approval.

[Dewey]

DCist report on this week’s rollout of new company Helbiz ebikeshare bikes. The Helbiz operating area in the app shows DC and Alexandria but not Arlington, this is puzzling because Helbiz is not listed on the City of Alexandria’s list of permitted dockless mobility operators. Also part of the signup process requires the phone app scan a drivers license, but the app was unable to do so, Update: I reported the problem and they told me to sit tight until I got an email from Tech Support, anyone else able to complete the ID verification process?

[Judd]

@Dewey 197781 wrote:

DCist report on this week’s rollout of new company Helbiz ebikeshare bikes. The Helbiz operating area in the app shows DC and Alexandria but not Arlington, this is puzzling because Helbiz is not listed on the City of Alexandria’s list of permitted dockless mobility operators. Also part of the signup process requires the phone app scan a drivers license, but the app was unable to do so, Update: I reported the problem and they told me to sit tight until I got an email from Tech Support, anyone else able to complete the ID verification process?

Multiple folks on Twitter indicated that the app says scan the front of your ID, but you actually need to scan the back to sign up.

Thanks for tracking all things e-bike related and posting here.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[n18]

Thanks Dewey. I see they are removing the clause that E-Bikes shouldn’t be operated anywhere(even with pedaling alone, including downhill on roads) above 25 MPH.

[Author]

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