It seems like you can't go an entire week lately without reading a new local news piece that's talking about the dangers of e-bikes, and how we have to rein in those crazy kids (and their irresponsible parents) who keep buying them. And if it's not that, it's news about how X or Y community is enacting new laws to severely curtail the use of e-bikes on paths in local parks, or on local streets, or even sidewalks.
And then, if you live in a place that has a local news podcast or three, you might find local mayors (or other elected officials) of towns that have recently enacted such laws chatting about them. Maybe, if you're lucky, bicycle and e-bike advocates will also get a chance to speak up and offer some nuance to the discussion.
Or maybe not.
But for the most part, many arguments against the adoption and use of e-bikes are pretty tired. Frequently, they end up sounding a whole lot like major cases of "old man yells at cloud," or like they're horribly ill-informed, or sometimes even both.
The Age Limitation and Licensing Argument
I recently had the misfortune to hear a mayor in a town outside Chicago argue on a local news program that "there's a reason we don't let people legally drive until they're 16," and then go on to suggest that should be the case for e-bikes as well. He also talked about dangerous accidents, insurance, and a few other incoherent arguments that didn't make much sense.
But perhaps the best moment was when he seemed almost apoplectically angry that kids on e-bikes can go 20 mph. Thankfully, there was a bicycling advocate who was able to successfully interject that regular, human-powered bicycles can go 20 mph as well, in the right hands. I can personally attest to this, as I've been passed by hardcore bicyclists going much faster than me while I've been out on my own e-bike!
What's next, a suggestion that kids shouldn't ride regular, human-powered bicycles, either? Both bicycles and e-bikes carry inherent risks, to different degrees. Greater education about risks and responsibilities is a fantastic thing, at all ages. But banning things generally doesn't solve any underlying problems. Unfortunately, since its the simple answer, it's usually what we go with instead of hashing out the complications.
It's All About The Money
Here at RideApart, we've been noting how UTVs (and in some cases, ATVs) are getting legalized for on-road use in more and more places around the US. There are multiple reasons why this is the case, but one that absolutely can't be ignored is a very simple fact: Cars (and trucks) keep getting more and more expensive. For a while now, even the used car market has been crazy. If you already have a UTV or ATV, or you have access to one, and you can easily get around in your community in the ways you need to on a daily basis, why wouldn't you start to consider using it to do more?
Obviously, like every type of vehicle, you're going to get some folks who only want to go out and hoon. But you're also going to get quite a few who just want to go about their daily business on a vehicle they can afford to use.
Similarly, e-bikes can be a really good, cost-effective option to get around a community. Whether you're just a person out going to work or school or running errands, or you're some type of delivery rider, they're a great option for many. And they're a whole lot less expensive to own and operate than a car is these days.
There are arguments to be made about safety, training, and safe operation, but the necessity for affordable and reliable transportation can't and shouldn't be overlooked.
One crucial difference between the UTV/ATV legalization argument and the e-bike argument is this: Fuel tax. Many cities and towns charge fuel tax every time you put gas in any vehicle, and that tax goes to fund a variety of local services in any given town, city, or village that has it.
E-bikes don't use gasoline, so they aren't subject to fuel tax. If enough people use e-bikes enough of the time, and aren't constantly putting gasoline into their vehicles because they're finding that their e-bikes serve their transportation needs quite well, then that's depriving your local municipality of vital revenue. It feels almost like a "quiet part loud" moment, doesn't it?
Listen, I wish there weren't people who drive and/or ride any vehicle like jackasses. I wish we could all just be chill, share the road, and get to where we're going without incident. And I want to see that happen, but I think it's a major mistake to not apply thoughtfulness and, yes, nuance to how we regulate e-bike usage. Times are already tough enough without taking away a compelling, innovative, and useful form of transportation from folks who can really use it.
