traingang

I'll engage with the struggle session: I think these distinctions are good actually, as they clarify the gradients between a bicycle and a moped. The 20mph speed limit in particular I think is a pretty important safety feature to have, and a reasonable speed limit on bike paths. The difference between 20mph and 28mph is not trivial, you're doubling your kinetic energy.

I do agree that Class 3 without a throttle is silly, I think that's a state-specific rule.

Class 1 shouldn't exist, and class 3 should have a throttle. I do think 45 kmh/28 mph is a reasonable top speed though. It's a bicycle, not a motorcycle. Safety is a reasonable concern to have.

They should do this to cars tbh

These are European classes seeping through. The class C e-bikes are tremendously popular in Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany and are replacing cars for commutes.

In Belgium the adoption is huge because the class C (45 km/h) are allowed on regular bicycle paths and on the road where max speed is 50 km/h (31 mph). They are specifically useful on our cycle highways infrastructure for medium long distances. Daily commutes by bike of 20 to 30 km are quite common now.

A class 3 bike requires a license plate, insurance and a driver's license.

Class 3 bikes aren't allowed on mixed bicycle pedestrian infrastructure.

Class 2 bikes are required to follow the same regulation as mopeds and you can ride them from age 16.

It's all very logical if you place these classes in their proper environment.

No idea what you talking about, could you give some context pls

My town says it forbids Class 3 ebikes on the trail system but I've yet to see a checkpoint

The classes should be strictly based on top speed - pedal assist/throttle putting you in a different spot is dumb.

But the classes themselves do serve an important purpose. The vehicles allowed on bike paths should have a limited top speed, the vehicles allowed on roads should have a minimum top speed, and the required safety gear/licensing for a rider should become more comprehensive as speed increases. I've seen people on unlocked eBikes zipping around at 30+MPH in just a regular bike helmet - brother there's a reason motorcyclists wear more gear than that.

I love eBikes when they're used to go at regular bike speeds, but with less effort. Going at 20mph in an urban bike lane is stupid

two wheels good, four wheels bad!

I don't know what this post is saying, but I'm gonna use it as a place to discuss ebikes.
They're good in that they make biking more accessible, however (disclaimer: this is in the context of a city with good bicycle infrastructure and a common culture of most people taking the bicycle to their destination, this is not in the context of some poorly planned us car-centric hellscape).

1. There's now a lot of people that have never gone fast on a bike, suddenly cruising at 25 km/h as if it is nothing. If you've never gone fast on your bike in am urban environment, then that's not super good to just be able to do. There's a significant difference between just cruising towards your destination and turning yourself into a tiny self-propelled maul. I've seen way too many people with no awareness of their surroundings and no awareness of how their breakers react, suddenly coming to terms with this as they hit said brakes way too late.
2. There's a lot of bikes that are being tuned to go above those 25 km/h. That's not really the same vehicle anymore, but it's still sharing the same space as a bike. This isnt exactly safe, at least not when the person isnt used to being super fast on a nimble little iron horse. I think it is kinda wild how vehicles going only 5 km/h faster requires a license to drive, but the bike is excempt. I think there should be some sort of license or something. A brief course, something.

The thing that most of the people here seem to overlook is that class 3 bikes exist because of EU legislation that came into effect in 2016. They are required to have a license plate, insurance and the rider has to have a license and a minimal age of 16.

Belgium seems to be the only country to allow them on regular bicycle infrastructure in the EU but the Netherlands are experimenting with that too.