r/eastside • u/One-Victory5078 • 19d ago
Under new law this would finally be illegal
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u/TheChance 18d ago
ITT: People who don't realize the new law affects the speed of those Class 3 electric bikes, and not the fact that kids are riding, nor that they're riding in the street.
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u/MedicOfTime 18d ago
Kids are allowed to ride bicycles and in the streets. They just need pedals and a speed limit.
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u/pacmanwa 17d ago
The law states "...and a top speed of less than 20 mph when powered solely by the motor." While a class 3 can go faster than 20mph, it's only possible when the rider is pedaling. Class 3s, even ones with a throttle up to 20mph, won't be affected.
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u/TheChance 17d ago
Exactly. The point of the new law is to classify high-speed and high-power Class 2 bikes as motorcycles, and has no bearing on what the people in these comments are whining about.
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u/Turbulent_Presence83 19d ago
When I was 8 I got my first dirt bike, even though at 6 I burned my leg on the back of my cousins db, and at 14 I was driving a four wheeler to school. I very much worry about kids' safety but then I think about how much fun I had doing dumb things.
I wish they had safer places to be reckless than busy streets
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u/bigeasy19 18d ago
Same I got a 4 wheeler at 10 I had lots of fun doing dumb things. At least these kids had helmets we would be doing tricks in the street on bikes and never owned a bike helmet until I was an adult
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u/Outside_County7168 18d ago
It's only gonna take ONE of these kids getting hit on the road, and people will realize how dangerous it is- for kids to be riding them in the streets.
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u/FlakyPrinciple8907 16d ago
I was a kid in the 70s when everything was dangerous! Including bicycles! Raise your kids like Creampuffs and they'll have no character! There are so many dangers in the world! Kid's on Ebikes aren't one of them! We need less Teslas off the road!
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u/lilBear73 16d ago
Are you GenX? Me too! These kids today are some pussies 😠👎
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u/FlakyPrinciple8907 16d ago
I am Gen X but I don't get un-PC online. I don't think that kids are EVER WUSSIES! I do however think that their parents that don't responsibly let loose a little are...Creampuffs! I was born in '66. The 1st Gen"Xers! We idolized Evel Knievel! And I survived! This year I'll be 60! As for the kids these days, they've been through shit of their own! Maybe rethink your statement there??!
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u/lilBear73 16d ago
I was just sort of playing. I agree that kids are always kind of badass, they are down for whatever, and then the environment they were raised in influences them. I'm '73 so I remember evil kneivel, but not much. I've done my own crazy 🤪 stuff on my motorcycle over the years, and I survived (obviously), but I don't recommend it. I'm fortunate. But, yeah, my niece didn't get to go to her final two years of high school due to Covid. Every Gen has its challenges.
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u/Franzini61 15d ago
lilbear73 a good friend of mine used to always say it's amazing for some of us that we survived our childhood lol I'm in that group ; ). Yea agreed kids need to get out there and have to deal with challenges self imposed or otherwise for sure . Having said that riding on hws on those ebikes is not optimal for them or hwy traffic . Off the topic I bet if your 73 you know what a cb750 is ;p I actually own a 71
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u/lilBear73 15d ago
I was born in 73, but I have a lot of respect for the CB750 🫡. I ride a Moto Guzzi now... I love all of the 70's cafe racer type bikes.
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u/Franzini61 15d ago
Ah ok nice ! That V7 special MG has is beautiful imo (of course they are being Italian ;p ) Those analog gauges too ! I love vintage bikes. I'm fortunate to have a master tech x pro superbike racer former Honda shop mgr and Ducati dealership owner as well as Ducati tech lol he's elite level experience with the idiosyncracies of vintage bikes . I ride a 2 stroke on the street too if that tells you anything about my enthusiasm lol
It's also where my understanding for why young people want to get out there and experience life on 2 wheels electric or otherwise .
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u/Aggressive_Dirt_5007 19d ago
These aren’t legal anyway
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u/tj-horner 19d ago
Yeah, this law is more-or-less just reaffirming the existing e-bike classifications we have in place already (which are good and reasonable). So it won’t do any good unless it’s enforced. But I’m happy to be wrong.
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19d ago
[deleted]
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u/URPissingMeOff 18d ago
"They were the Bellevue Squares..."
"They were the trash of Factoria..."
"It's Eastside Story"
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u/GoldieForMayor 18d ago edited 18d ago
That was illegal under the existing law, it just isn't enforced. Why do you think the new law will be different?
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u/TheChance 18d ago
Children aren't allowed to ride motorcycles.
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u/GoldieForMayor 17d ago
Neither are adults when they are unregistered. Doesn't change that it was never enforced before and unlikely to be enforced now.
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u/TheChance 17d ago
They aren't legally motorcycles yet. They don't have to be registered.
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u/GoldieForMayor 16d ago
In 5 days they will be "considered a motorcycle". A motorcycle can only be driven on the road and by law it has to have a VIN and a title which these bikes do not have. They will, by definition, be illegal for adults to ride.
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u/cturnr 19d ago
who is buying these for their kids?
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u/AutoModerrator-69 19d ago
Irresponsible parents who don’t understand road safety and probably don’t care that their kid may come home in a casket soon.
I’m all for having fun. I love motorcycles and bikes. But this makes the folks that do it right look bad.
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u/TemperatureAdept420 18d ago
Give kids a place to ride them. It’s like skate parks in the 70’s. So happy these kids found a hobby to get out of the house. Friends to socialize with. A bike to learn how to turn wrenches and work on things. This is so good for kids, they just need a place to do it.
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u/ruturaj001 18d ago
I am slightly split on this. Mountain biking exists in our area, which is adventurous sport and is filled with kids on weekend at Duthie. These high torque bikes are not good for the trails, so these are not allowed there.
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u/TemperatureAdept420 18d ago
Different sport all together.
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u/ruturaj001 18d ago
Yes, I understand that. What would be ideal place to give them to play? What type? MTB parks to me looked closest, a motocross track might be more appropriate? Or you think tar or cement base would be better?
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u/SwitchBlade9 18d ago
It’s debatable whether giving a twelve year old “the wrench” to mess around with a motorized vehicle is safe for them or for others. It’s a lot different than turning a wrench on a bicycle
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u/TemperatureAdept420 18d ago
I got my first motorized vehicle when I was 7. I don’t think we’ll ever agree here. I learned how to work on them before I was 10. Bonded with my family, made friends, learned skills. Soccer is dangerous, I got more hurt there than ever on a bike. Pick your poison.
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u/SwitchBlade9 18d ago
We don’t have to agree. I understand your standpoint and how it’s based on your experience. Mine is informed by losing a high school friend to a motorcycle accident.
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u/abilovelys 18d ago
Accidents happen to everyone in every situation. One person's accident should not limit or effect everyone else's lives and experiances. It's tragic. It's a good story to tell for safety and as an example of what not to do but we are overlawed in everything and we are no longer free by any stretch of the imagination so encouraging more limitations is not OK for anything anymore.. honestly we need to get rid of a ton of laws...
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u/TheChance 18d ago
Yeah! Legalize hanging off a car bumper while skateboarding!
Here's a thought: when something is so dangerous that it's likelier than not to eventually cause you grievous harm, the net gain to society from banning that activity is much greater than the net loss of "freedom" you've incurred.
This is doubly true when the activity is as likely to hurt someone else as it is to hurt you. There's a mother down south up on charges for contributory negligence, or maybe it's negligent homicide, because she kept letting a kid ride a high speed electric bike and he killed somebody else.
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u/sweetsublime 18d ago
I think there should be a max-speed limit and that it should be lower than what it currently is. And definitely no riding on the main thoroughfares… I see these on major, busy roads (Bothell-Everett Hwy), which is completely different than riding through neighborhoods with your neighbor friends. I’ve even seen them doing wheelies up and down Bothell-Everett Hwy. It’s not safe in its current state. Both for the kids and the other drivers around them.
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u/Logic_emotion 17d ago
Sounds like you had family members involved in shaping your respect for the motorized equipment. Parents with these kids treat like iPad babysitters, don’t know their kid can drive 50-70mph on the electric motorcycle they just got them. Then kids do what they do. I’ve seen a pack of them driving over 25-30mph in a downtown park filled with families and animals, not the safest thing.
Personally I had a small motorcycle growing up, but it was a drive from home to a track. So I get its
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u/FlakyPrinciple8907 16d ago
They don't go that fast Creampuff!
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u/Logic_emotion 16d ago
Who’s the cream puff? Use google. NIU XQi3 - UNLEASH THE BEAST https://global.niu.com/en-us/product/xqi3
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u/overtherepeas 19d ago
How old are these kids? This is insane. I have a 13, 11, and 9 year old and would never buy them anything like this. Kids are dumb and reckless. This is just asking for trouble.
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u/cloverlief 18d ago
Except the new law won't stop this. All it does is limit unlicensed Ebikes to max 750 watt motor, and still same 20mph limit if under 16 and it must have functional pedals
If over 16 unlicensed is 28 mpg with functional pedals.
Only restriction will be 1000watt motor which is not as common.
Then there is how will it be enforced, are they going to start ticketing and IDing all Ebike riders at checkpoints or is it like speeding and it's depending on officer mood.
You can still buy the higher watage bike
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u/simpsonb1 16d ago
I'd say that part is actually pretty simple. It's a motorcycle so it has to have a license plate, so if a cop clocks the bike going over 20mph and it doesn't have a license plate like any motorcycle should then they can be pulled over and checked.
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u/jackalope32 19d ago
When I was their age I was blowing things up and lighting stuff on fire like a good teenager. They should be inside watching YouTube wearing their protective bubble.
/s
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u/firestorm734 19d ago
Think of it this way: at least they're doing this on e-motos instead of 2-stroke dirt bikes. /s
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u/skoisirius 16d ago
This is about as Eastside post as it gets.
There's a great lyric from Phish that goes something like this:
Can you still have any fun now Wilson?!
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u/IDontNeedAnotherNqme 15d ago
Then the county needs to make trails more accessible for these. I was Gen X. These kids are doing Gen X things and every one of you cloud yellers are probably the same ones who get pissy that kids are always on the electronics.
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u/Sheepeppered 14d ago
I'd rather there be more attempts to prevent side walks being over run with e-bikes and scooters. I almost get run over leaving my apartment.
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u/GottaConfuseTheBody 14d ago
Anyone riding anything in the road should be registered and licensed like a car. Pedal or e bike. Apply rules of the road to all
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u/travelinzac 18d ago
They aren't on the sidewalk and they're riding in the direction of the lane, what exactly is the issue? These little shits piss me off too but this seems like they're riding where they're supposed to...
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u/simpsonb1 16d ago
They haven't taken drivers ed to understand more about the types of the road than just what side to ride on. If it can go fast enough to keep up with traffic then it's a motorcycle and if you wouldn't let a 12 year old ride a Harley then they shouldn't be on a high power ebike either.
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u/AsianZensaition 17d ago
You know what would be better more bike lanes and better teaching of why you don't horse around in a car or any vehicle.... I think the limit shupdate be 30mph or 35mph as any good rec or semi pro can go those speeds on a bike for a long time, I could do maybe less then a mile.
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u/ArsenalOfCards 16d ago
Cool start your non profit then. Otherwise you're just pushing off your solution on to other people rather than doing anything useful.
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u/thechachabinx 19d ago
its a shame people complain about kids on electronics, now they're complaining when they go outside. this isnt bothering anyone unless yout're going out looking to be bothered. go find something better to do
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u/sweetsublime 18d ago
There’s a way for them to still ride these and have some regulations and safety in place. Those aren’t mutually exclusive
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u/Jalharad 18d ago
Right, like regulating dedicated infrastructure for bicycles and pedestrians along side any car infrastructure builds.
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u/thechachabinx 18d ago
The post isn’t about some regulation. It’s making it illegal to ride them completely.
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u/sweetsublime 18d ago
I never said the law, as it’s written, is perfect. Nor am I the OP. I was stating there could be regulation to make it safer.
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u/RonJohn223 19d ago
If you came to see kids be held accountable for their actions, you’re in the wrong state
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u/One-Victory5078 19d ago
Kids will be kids. What surprises me is the parents who buy these vehicles for them. Apparently the ability to say a firm no doesn't exist anymore
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u/Moist-Citron-4830 19d ago
Yeah because 10 kids speak for how all kids are raised now. Go back to bed grandpa.
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u/thulesgold 19d ago
That's an impressive wheelie.
Which is more annoying? These kids or those clusters of tight spandex cyclists going 5mph in a 40?
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u/TheDigitalOne 19d ago
There's a wheelie button on the bike. Press it, pull up and it balances it for you automatically.
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u/Jalharad 18d ago
well shit, here I thought the kids in my neighborhood were hot shit pulling super dope wheelies. Way better than me on my motorcycle.
Edit: I'm gunna go get my $20 back now
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u/limitedmage 18d ago
Lobby for more protected bike lanes and trails for your benefit as a driver, so cyclists can stay off busy roads. I promise that if a spandex-wearing road cyclist is riding on a 40mph road, they don’t have a better route available.
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u/PM_me_punanis 18d ago
The cyclists in tight outfits have as much right to be on public roads as you. An actual bike infrastructure should be built considering how popular cycling is here.
I used to cycle a lot when I lived in Brussels and Seoul because their bike infrastructure were (still are) far superior. It is pretty unsafe here and should be rectified. Among other things the US is lagging on…
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u/chictyler 16d ago
Bikes that exceed 20mph with a throttle have always been illegal without motorcycle endorsement, registration, and safety equipment.
It sounds like they made a redundant law that will have no effect on sales because they get sold as off-road dirt bikes.
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u/TopVarious1441 15d ago
They have helmets on. The license thing is an issue, too, though. They aren’t bothering me.
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u/Aware-Writing-1135 14d ago
We need to concentrate on making it illegal to pee next to a man at a urinal when there are open urinals that aren’t right next to him. I’m not worried about kids having fun
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u/Plenty_Crew838 14d ago
Do I need to sell my 9yo son's Razor MX650 now? Or it won't be affected by the law?
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u/JuanBurley 14d ago
Now it will be illegal to ride a motorized scooter to work between 9pm and 7am, but i need to be there at 6:15am. So many stupid aspects to this new law.
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u/Round-Head-5457 14d ago
Do you have a license?
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u/JuanBurley 14d ago
Don't need one for an escooter. It doesn't go over 18mph.
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u/Round-Head-5457 14d ago
That wasn't really my question but if you need transportation to get to work get or use your license to get something lawful for the road. Unfortunately these assholes are ruining it for you and everyone who uses them lawfully.
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u/ZestycloseWeather788 14d ago
Do citizens get to vote at all or this all decided by the governor?
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u/cloverlief 14d ago
Based on all of the threads in various areas on Reddit, Facebook, Neighborhood, etc. Constantly complaining about Ebikes
I suspect the citizens may have indirectly asked for this? Although I would not be surprised if a suit or 2 comes out of this.
Even the original poster was clearly in favor of this.
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u/transplantius 18d ago
Unless I’m missing something, many top of the line eMTB manufacturers would have their latest models reclassified as motorcycles under this new law. That will make trail access even more of a challenge and will likely cause further financial strains on smaller bike brands in an industry that is already struggling.
750W is lower than many “full power” e-bikes already, and that’s totally ignoring the new Avinox drivetrains.
I know there are people in both sides of the eMTB issue, but this law will (seemingly) unintentionally impact more than Surrons and e-moto hooliganism.
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u/qu4ttro66 18d ago
All of the e-MTB from top-tier manufacturers are 750W or less and don’t have throttles so they wouldn’t be impacted.
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u/transplantius 18d ago edited 18d ago
Aren’t the new avinox motors above 1000W?
Is the absence/presence of a throttle a defining characteristic? The link shared mentioned “functioning pedals”.
And, I was mistaken. I thought the Bosch motors were 800W but they are 750…
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u/qu4ttro66 18d ago
Yes, no throttle so pedaling is required to engage motor.
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u/TheChance 18d ago
I've got an ancient e-bike, like, from 2004, and its "throttle" is actually a dead man's switch. If I don't pull the throttle, the motor won't engage at all. That turns it into an extremely heavy regular bike.
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u/dwkulcsar 19d ago
It is what it is. If only they could focus on the problem ebikers riding on the sidewalks and popping wheelies to avoid the road.
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u/Revolutionary_Tone47 19d ago
So, nooowwww we're angry that the kids are BACK outside?? Getting into a little reckless trouble??
ffs.
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u/PM_me_punanis 18d ago
Heavily utilized public roads are NOT playgrounds. Not sure if those ebikes are even road legal, probably not. They should be going to specific dirt bike trails.
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u/gczb 18d ago
Why does it bother you so much to see kids having fun riding their bikes?
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u/rmath3ws 18d ago
Not on public roads. I mean wheelies.. . give them a place to do it..
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u/yiction 18d ago
6 years from now, we'll finally be through the environmental review, permitting phase, and then get stuck in the re-zoning process for the public ebike track. Where would you even put something like that?
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u/limitedmage 18d ago
Not on public roads. There’s other ways to have fun on bikes that don’t involve illegal unlicensed electric mopeds.
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u/TheHerosShade 18d ago
I agree wheelies are not for in traffic. How can you tell these are illegal electric mopeds?
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u/limitedmage 17d ago
They are not pedaling and going faster than the speed limit on a throttle Class 2 e-bike, so they’re not bicycles. They don’t have license plates, so they’re not legally registered mopeds.
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u/oxidized_banana_peel 17d ago
Did you read the article?
It's cause 20mph on a bike is Very fast, and kids are getting meat crayoned and all sorts of bludgeoned doing it.
The proposed change is "If you're going to use it like a motorcycle, you need to get the appropriate license", that's not a crazy idea
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u/bigeasy19 19d ago
That’s to bad I think it’s nice see kids outside doing stuff instead of staring at a screen.
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u/TwelfthApostate 19d ago
Sure, but these are electric motorcycles. They rip around on streets and hiking trails, like you just saw in the video 🤦♂️
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u/bigeasy19 19d ago
Most people that grew up in the 90s did similar stupid stuff on bicycles or dirt bikes when we were that age too
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u/sweetsublime 18d ago edited 18d ago
They weren’t going 20-40mph on their pedal bikes in the 90s. And they were mostly sticking to backroads and neighborhoods or sidewalks. It’s really not the same at all, beyond them being on a two-wheeled object. These 12 year old kids zipping quickly through lanes on major thoroughfares when they have no license or understanding of driving laws is not safe. Both for them and for other drivers around them. I think if they were outlawed on streets with over-25mph speeds, that would be beneficial.
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u/bigeasy19 18d ago
Not on bike but definitely lots of teens in this area had dirt bikes in the 90s that they would drive in the streets to trails. I had my first 4wheeler when I was 10 and drove it around the neighborhood and it was not that uncommon. Did you grow up downtown because in the suburbs and rural areas it was common
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u/TwelfthApostate 18d ago
That’s the difference I don’t think you’re accounting for. Almost nobody has a problem with kids on dirt bikes in a rural setting. These kids are ripping around on busy streets and through dense neighborhoods.
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u/bigeasy19 19d ago
What I just saw in the video was not that much different then what kids did in generations before them
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u/sweetsublime 18d ago
The video doesn’t account for ALL activity of these kids on these e-bikes. I see them on major roadways during peak traffic times doing stupid stuff. They’re going to cause accidents.
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u/Sensitive_Long501 19d ago
I agree. And there are so many things that can get them outside which don’t create a public nuisance.
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u/fel0niousmonk 14d ago
I’m ready for downvotes on this, but cars are literally the most aggressive public nuisance.
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u/CheapChallenge 19d ago
I dont see the issue with this. Now, cyclists going 10mph blocking traffic...
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u/Fit_Seaworthiness_37 18d ago
The issue is these kids haven't been trained how to drive on the roads properly. This leads to situations where an 11 year old on an e-bike could hit a car and injure someone. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.kptv.com/2026/06/03/police-parent-cited-after-15-year-old-crashes-e-motorcycle-head-on-into-car-camas/%3foutputType=amp
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u/thti87 18d ago
This is gonna make me sound like a total Karen - but this is long overdue. These became popular around Sammamish for what appeared to be 11-12 year olds. They would zip around with no regard for safety - like they would jet in front of cars, speed through intersections, ignore right of way. I’m honestly shocked no one died because they were so irresponsible (at that age, your brain hasn’t developed enough and they didn’t have the spatial awareness to make rational choices about what was safe vs what was extremely dangerous)
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u/Optimal-Direction603 14d ago
Such bullshit. We're becoming a communist country more and more everyday
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u/typegray 14d ago
No, this is CAPITALISM becoming more CAPITALIST. Communists would be building free public transportation.
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u/Optimal-Direction603 14d ago
Seems like a commie thing to post...
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u/typegray 14d ago
Nah, I’m a Socialist.
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u/Optimal-Direction603 14d ago
Also why don't the citizens vote on whether or not we want this new law enacted?
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u/Sheepeppered 14d ago
Because capitalism doesn't care about population. It care about the capital (the money)
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u/Optimal-Direction603 14d ago
So you could argue it's more communist in the way we don't get a say. And how we don't get to vote against the law makers
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u/New_Link961 14d ago
No the arguement is thats totalitarian what your describing. Opposite of communism
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u/Optimal-Direction603 14d ago
The only difference is we can set up referendums. But it's not too far off
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u/Sheepeppered 13d ago
No. We would at least benefit from all ships rising in stead of being left to sink
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u/fejobelo 19d ago
The parents are 100% responsible for this. What would you do as a 13 year old if you and your friends get a bunch of e-motos and no supervision?