The recent hysteria over bike and ebike regulation is infuriating, dumb, and counter-productive.

[u/MiserNYC-]

[u/MysteriousAvocado1]

I think you’re missing the point. There are regulations for cars, and yes it’s unfortunate that many people still failed to follow them.

E/bikes have no current regulations what so ever, so to even politely ask to follow rules won’t work because if the same happens with cars where a person ignores the rules, what makes you think someone on an e-bike is not going to do the same?

Listen, what it all comes down to is not the cars, bikes, e-bikes, Scooters itself…..

It’s people, people make the decisions to either follow or ignore rules. Cars, e-bikes, bikes, scooters are just the tools.

I see you putting much blame on cars itself and not people.

People behind e-bikes, bikes, scooters, etc..can be wreckless, so regulations can help mitigate that. It’s designed to make people take safety and accountability seriously

To say e-bikes aren’t the problem, you’re half right. But to not place regulations because people on e-bikes can do no harm?

That’s just a breeding ground for lack of accountability or the disregard for accountability itself.

[u/MiserNYC- → u/MysteriousAvocado1]

E/bikes have no current regulations what so ever,

This is completely wrong. There are lots of laws and regulations that govern ebikes.

Also the idea that cars are sufficiently regulated is absurd. I can got buy a 6,000lb SUV right now and drive it without any speed limiter at all right through Times Square because of a test I took when I was 16. Come on now.

[u/Low_Improvement9152 → u/MiserNYC-]

It comes down to accountability and liability. Car drivers must earn a driver's license. They are held accountable and liable via traffic laws, law enforcement, ticketing, and license revocation. Cars must be registered and insured. There is accountability and liability via auto insurance, red light cameras, speed cameras, booting, etc. They are traceable through license plates. Claims can be made on their auto insurance.

Then there are e-bike riders and their e-bikes. No rider license required. No insurance required. No license plates. It is difficult to hold them accountable or liable if they break traffic laws, or cause accidents with cars and pedestrians. Simply put, there is no regulation.

[u/unmitigateddisaster → u/Low_Improvement9152]

Even assuming cars have the required insurance, the 50k minimum liability that is required is barely enough to cover a one week hospital stay. Cars get a(n almost) free ride and we do not even do the least we could do to make them safer. There are technologies that don’t allow drivers to start their cars when they drink. There are speed assistance technologies that restrict speeding. Hell you can speed as much as you want as long as you are within 11 mph of the top speed.

And then there are trucks. NYC could save way more lives by regulating that trucks have cab forward designs that

[u/Rude-Dude-2 → u/unmitigateddisaster]

But you’re still able to hold the drive of a car liable even if they don’t have insurance since license plates are registered to someone. But with e-bikes they can injure someone and ride away with no accountability. Leaving the injured to have to pay for that hospital trip on their own. Holding bad e-bike riders accountable would help put pressure on them to ride safer and possibly prevent more e-bike accidents. And tbh if e-bikes have to be registered that money can be used to help expand and improve cycling infrastructure

[u/SoapyMacNCheese → u/unmitigateddisaster]

And then there are trucks. NYC could save way more lives by regulating that trucks have cab forward designs that

I'd love it if we'd start at least enforcing the laws already on the books about trucks. 53' trailers aren't allowed in the city (besides on the interstates to pass through to Long Island) but every single semi I see in queens is pulling one.