> Work within the law? The law in New York State and City on e-bikes is a patchwork full of conflicting dead ends.
I agree it's confusing. But out of that confusion and morass of laws comes the realization that pedal-assist bikes ARE legal in NYC. The DeBlasio and Trottenberg have also (grudgingly) admitted so as well, and suggested they will direct NYPD to not ticket them. And e-bike shops selling pedal-assist e-bikes don't get fined either (or successfully fight the fines). This is by far the best write-up I've seen on the issue, by a lawyer:
http://www.citylandnyc.org/scooters-hoverboards-bicycles-whats-legal/
The basic point is: for much of the Vehicle & Traffic Code, NYC makes its own laws. For example, turn on red is allowed in NYS but not in NYC. And NYC has outlawed "motorized scooters" --- a category that covers e-bikes with throttles but not pedal-assist bicycles, since they require SOME human power to move. There is work to improve and standardize e-bike laws in New York. If this work succeeds, pedal-assist e-bikes will also become legal in the rest of NY State. However, no current proposed legislation is likely to have a material effect on NYC law, since pedal assist e-bikes are already defacto legal.
> Anonymous 12:53pm, If you have a source for that I'd love to see it.
OK, here's the basic summary for e-bikes, which require no licensing or registration:
* NYC: Pedal-assist up to 750W and 20mph (34 km/h) allowed. Throttles not allowed.
* EU (France): Pedal assist up to 250W and 25 km/h allowed. Throttles not allowed.
As you can see, pedal-assist e-bikes that are perfectly legal in NYC would be illegal in Europe. Our laws are MORE lenient, not less.
https://www.juicybike.co.uk/uk-europe-ebike-law
> I thought electric scooters under 45km/hr can be registered in France
Yes they can.
* Europe: Mopeds up to 45 km/h require registration and insurance (cheap), but not drivers license.
* New York State and City: class B (30mph) and C (20mph) scooters require registration, insurance and drivers license.
So in NY, you need a license for essential the same vehicle you don't need a licence for in Europe. But either way, you still need registration and insurance.
> (As it is there is no way to register a... electric scooter in NYS.)
See the GenZe 2.0 electric scooter. It has received "type approval" in NYS as a Class B moped (30mph) (meaning, this particular model has been certified by the State), comes with a VIN, and can be registered. I went over this with a sales rep, and have also seen one on the streets of NYC, with a license plate. Vespa is also working on an electric model. The GenZe 2.0 cannot be ridden in a bike lane or path, which is appropriate. (30mph is a LOT faster than 20mph).
So far, laws in NYC and EU are quite similar. Where things divege is the treatment of "speed pedelecs" a.k.a. "class 3 e-bikes", which go up to 45km/h (or 28mph in the USA). NYS and City simply ban speed pedelecs, whereas the EU is trying to change regulations to accomodate them. Beyond that I'm confused; but my research indicates that they will require some combination of type approval, registration and insurance. I.e. they are more like mopeds than bicycles.
In any case, I don't think NYC needs speed pedelecs. They aren't appropriate on bicycle infrastructure (due to their speed), and New Yorkers who want one can already purchase an electric Class B moped for use in the streets.
> The point I make in the Outside column is that instead of cracking
> down on the sorts of ebikes that are illegal in NYC we should be
> working towards updating the legislation. (As it is there is no way to
> register a throttle-assist ebike... in NYS.)
The e-bike industry funded unsuccessful efforts to legalize throttle-assist e-bikes ("class 2 e-bikes") for three years in a row. Every time they got something moving in Albany, it was killed by downstate concerns --- basicaly, NYC-based e-bike hate, NYPD concerns, centered around consternation over delivery workers. Legalization of throttles is simply not politically possible at this time. Full statewide legalization of class 1 e-bikes IS politically possible. Have you tried e-bikes? There's not much practical difference between one with or without a throttle, throttles aren't worth fighting for.
Also look at Europe vs. China. Europe is full of pedelecs that are popular, integrating well into existing bicycle infrastructure, and creating few problems. China has a poorly regulate market full of throttles, and cities are banning e-bikes right and left --- even though there are 200 million of them in the country.
If manufacturers REALLY want to sell throttle e-bikes in NYS, they can always go through the effort of type approval and sell them as class C mopeds (up to 20mph).
> While you're educating me, show me how Paris is cracking down on food delivery people. Seems to me when it comes to fighting climate change Hidalgo's putting her argent where her bouche is.
I agree with you 100%.
Taking the bait... I don't know much about restaurant delivery in Paris. I do know that the industry has been growing in China, with complaints similar to those in NYC. In Paris, there seem to be separate delivery companies. A quick Google of them does not turn up any e-bikes; I see manual bikes, Smart Cars and gasoline scooters. But if e-bikes are used, I'm sure they are the pedal-assist 25 km/h type that are legal in Europe. The situation in NYC, where e-bikes are legal but the stores mostly sell illegal e-bikes, is simply dumb.
http://inspirelle.com/9-tried-and-true-paris-food-delivery-services/
I agree it's confusing. But out of that confusion and morass of laws comes the realization that pedal-assist bikes ARE legal in NYC. The DeBlasio and Trottenberg have also (grudgingly) admitted so as well, and suggested they will direct NYPD to not ticket them. And e-bike shops selling pedal-assist e-bikes don't get fined either (or successfully fight the fines). This is by far the best write-up I've seen on the issue, by a lawyer:
http://www.citylandnyc.org/scooters-hoverboards-bicycles-whats-legal/
The basic point is: for much of the Vehicle & Traffic Code, NYC makes its own laws. For example, turn on red is allowed in NYS but not in NYC. And NYC has outlawed "motorized scooters" --- a category that covers e-bikes with throttles but not pedal-assist bicycles, since they require SOME human power to move. There is work to improve and standardize e-bike laws in New York. If this work succeeds, pedal-assist e-bikes will also become legal in the rest of NY State. However, no current proposed legislation is likely to have a material effect on NYC law, since pedal assist e-bikes are already defacto legal.
> Anonymous 12:53pm, If you have a source for that I'd love to see it.
OK, here's the basic summary for e-bikes, which require no licensing or registration:
* NYC: Pedal-assist up to 750W and 20mph (34 km/h) allowed. Throttles not allowed.
* EU (France): Pedal assist up to 250W and 25 km/h allowed. Throttles not allowed.
As you can see, pedal-assist e-bikes that are perfectly legal in NYC would be illegal in Europe. Our laws are MORE lenient, not less.
https://www.juicybike.co.uk/uk-europe-ebike-law
> I thought electric scooters under 45km/hr can be registered in France
Yes they can.
* Europe: Mopeds up to 45 km/h require registration and insurance (cheap), but not drivers license.
* New York State and City: class B (30mph) and C (20mph) scooters require registration, insurance and drivers license.
So in NY, you need a license for essential the same vehicle you don't need a licence for in Europe. But either way, you still need registration and insurance.
> (As it is there is no way to register a... electric scooter in NYS.)
See the GenZe 2.0 electric scooter. It has received "type approval" in NYS as a Class B moped (30mph) (meaning, this particular model has been certified by the State), comes with a VIN, and can be registered. I went over this with a sales rep, and have also seen one on the streets of NYC, with a license plate. Vespa is also working on an electric model. The GenZe 2.0 cannot be ridden in a bike lane or path, which is appropriate. (30mph is a LOT faster than 20mph).
So far, laws in NYC and EU are quite similar. Where things divege is the treatment of "speed pedelecs" a.k.a. "class 3 e-bikes", which go up to 45km/h (or 28mph in the USA). NYS and City simply ban speed pedelecs, whereas the EU is trying to change regulations to accomodate them. Beyond that I'm confused; but my research indicates that they will require some combination of type approval, registration and insurance. I.e. they are more like mopeds than bicycles.
In any case, I don't think NYC needs speed pedelecs. They aren't appropriate on bicycle infrastructure (due to their speed), and New Yorkers who want one can already purchase an electric Class B moped for use in the streets.
> The point I make in the Outside column is that instead of cracking
> down on the sorts of ebikes that are illegal in NYC we should be
> working towards updating the legislation. (As it is there is no way to
> register a throttle-assist ebike... in NYS.)
The e-bike industry funded unsuccessful efforts to legalize throttle-assist e-bikes ("class 2 e-bikes") for three years in a row. Every time they got something moving in Albany, it was killed by downstate concerns --- basicaly, NYC-based e-bike hate, NYPD concerns, centered around consternation over delivery workers. Legalization of throttles is simply not politically possible at this time. Full statewide legalization of class 1 e-bikes IS politically possible. Have you tried e-bikes? There's not much practical difference between one with or without a throttle, throttles aren't worth fighting for.
Also look at Europe vs. China. Europe is full of pedelecs that are popular, integrating well into existing bicycle infrastructure, and creating few problems. China has a poorly regulate market full of throttles, and cities are banning e-bikes right and left --- even though there are 200 million of them in the country.
If manufacturers REALLY want to sell throttle e-bikes in NYS, they can always go through the effort of type approval and sell them as class C mopeds (up to 20mph).
> While you're educating me, show me how Paris is cracking down on food delivery people. Seems to me when it comes to fighting climate change Hidalgo's putting her argent where her bouche is.
I agree with you 100%.
Taking the bait... I don't know much about restaurant delivery in Paris. I do know that the industry has been growing in China, with complaints similar to those in NYC. In Paris, there seem to be separate delivery companies. A quick Google of them does not turn up any e-bikes; I see manual bikes, Smart Cars and gasoline scooters. But if e-bikes are used, I'm sure they are the pedal-assist 25 km/h type that are legal in Europe. The situation in NYC, where e-bikes are legal but the stores mostly sell illegal e-bikes, is simply dumb.
http://inspirelle.com/9-tried-and-true-paris-food-delivery-services/
Comments
Post a Comment