A bill in the Florida Legislature would regulate electric bicycles by enacting licensing requirements.
House Bill 243 proposes that Class 3 e-bike riders must hold a driver's license or learner's permit, Bay News 9 reported. Class 3 e-bikes use throttles to reach speeds up to 28 mph. E-bikes that exceed that threshold would be classified as electric motorcycles.
"[The bill] would also add questions about electric bicycles and motorized scooters to the driver's license exam," the station said.
The Florida Highway Patrol as well as state police departments and sheriff's offices would have to log the type of e-machine and age of its operator when there's a crash as well. Modifying an e-bike could be punished with a $100 fine.
Like driving an electric vehicle, riding an e-bike will save you money on fuel and maintenance if you swap out trips in a gas-powered automobile. No more oil changes, tuneups, or popping the hood to see what's wrong.
The fast adoption of the machines, however, has led to a hodgepodge of rules and regulations surrounding their usage. Sunshine State lawmakers are working to "prevent traffic incidents,injuries, and fatalities involving such bicycles," according to the legislation.
This could be especially important for children who ride e-bikes and those who modify them, as one e-bike business owner told Bay News 9.
"I see them speeding past the posted speed limit, and they're not pedaling. They're motorized by either electrical or even regular motors. I think that's the biggest concern right now within the industry," EBike Adventures of St. Pete's Drew Pomeroy said.
Even with an e-bike's pedal-assist technology, users get more exercise than traditional cyclists, according to one study. Class 1 e-bikes, which can reach 20 mph but don't have throttles, were most effective in this regard.
The clean rides also help to reduce pollution when they supplant internal combustion engine vehicles and similar modes of transportation. This means cleaner air in your neighborhood and a cooler future.
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