this post was submitted on 14 Apr 2025
24 points (100.0% liked)
Bicycles
3671 readers
46 users here now
Welcome to [email protected]
A place to share our love of all things with two wheels and pedals. This is an inclusive, non-judgemental community. All types of cyclists are accepted here; whether you're a commuter, a roadie, a MTB enthusiast, a fixie freak, a crusty xbiking hoarder, in the middle of an epic across-the-world bicycle tour, or any other type of cyclist!
Community Rules
-
No bigotry - including racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia.
-
Be respectful. Everyone should feel welcome here.
-
No porn.
-
No ads / spamming.
-
Ride bikes
Other cycling-related communities
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I honestly never considered powered bikes as anything but a motorcycle alternative. they got nothing to do with bicycles and I don't care about their potential demise (which is kinda overdramatic, that is nowhere on the horizon).
I know I have nothing but disdain and resentment when they hug bike paths, sidewalks, etc. and in my view those things should be in regular traffic lanes, same as mopeds and motorcycles.
as to the combustion part, no idea how prevalent that is but I wouldn't keep this thing in my home or near it.
Aren't you basically doing what this shop owner is complaining about? Conflating properly regulated, speed-limited e-bikes (which are mostly pedal-assist) with overpowered, illegal imports that function more like motorbikes (often with a throttle).
Admittedly, the line can blur, especially with unregulated imports bypassing local laws. But in places with sensible regulations, e-bikes are capped at speeds like 25 km/h—slower than conventional bikes can reach, but that’s a good thing, given their added weight and potential for greater harm in collisions.
The battery issue is real, but it’s not unique to e-bikes. Cheap, poorly made power cells plague everything from hoverboards to scooters. The problem isn’t e-bikes themselves—it’s sketchy imports circumventing safety standards.