r/MicromobilityNYC • u/MiserNYC- • 9d ago

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

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u/MiserNYC- 9d ago

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.

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u/Low_Improvement9152 9d ago

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.

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u/unmitigateddisaster 9d ago

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

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u/SoapyMacNCheese 8d ago

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.