New Jersey is set to pass a bill that requires electric bike and scooter owners to acquire a form of liability insurance that doesn’t really even exist. The industry-backed bill would create more obstacles to owning low-speed electric micromobility vehicles that have positively linked to less car usage and fewer carbon emissions. Which is to say this bill sucks and I hope it fails. (It probably won’t.) Other states are also considering bills that would make it harder to own an e-bike. I guess its cheaper than building protected infrastructure to make things safer for everyone on the road.
True. But I would like to see data showing that this is a real problem before we throw up obstacles to one of the best alternatives to car transit we have right now. Then we can see if the benefits are greater than the costs. But so far the only arguments I’ve seen are teens ride too fast and it scares me. Which may be a valid feeling but it is not a good basis for public policy.
But also if you are on a mixed use path your dog really shouldn’t be running all over without a care regardless of the presence of e-bikes. That is also a hazard.
The reality is people walk this way. When I’m trying to get someplace I shouldn’t have to slow down like that. (this is the same way cars feel about me on ‘their’ roads)