[bootloop]

They need a new vehicle category? Why does an electric bicycle need a driver license in the first place?

[petsfed]

Part of the problem here is that it seems like you can't actually pedal this thing, which is to me (and a lot of lawmakers in the US) sort of foundational to the concept "bicycle".

The other problem here is that with ever-increasing electric motor technology, old standards like engine displacement, or even power supply (gas vs electric) are not great indicators of the maximum speed of these things. As it stands, while 13 km/h is not that fast (its a reasonable jogging pace), it is very fast if the user is zoned out on their phone, which happens all too often in e.g. airports or tourist zones.

[recursive]

I see a lot of scooters around here with vestigial compliance pedals, mostly driven by gig delivery drivers. The form factor looks more like a moped. No one would ever use those pedals. Clearly they're there to skirt some kind of regulation. I'm not sure what the fix is, but "able to pedaled" is kind of a ridiculous compromise.

[piafraus]

> you can't actually pedal this thing... sort of foundational to the concept "bicycle".

Interesting. Just wondering - what does "pedal" mean to you. Explicitly spinning and explicitly with feets?

Are any of those not considered bicycles to you?

-Elliptical bicycle -Treadmill bicycle -Handcycle

[GuB-42]

I think that part is wrong. You don't need a license to ride an e-bike in Japan.

However, what would be an e-bike in some other country would be classified as a moped in Japan, requiring a driver's license. In particular, the amount of assistance an e-bike can provide is limited, some power has to come from the rider to be classified as an e-bike. So it is possible that because of some quirks of the Japanese regulations, an electric suitcase would be classified as a moped, therefore requiring a license.

[stubish]

I think the classification is pretty standard. A bicycle has pedals. A motorcycle/moped does not. Legal definitions start drifting by region about things like can you ride an e-bike without using the pedals or maximum speeds. So I doubt anywhere would consider these bicycles. What is more interesting to me is if it fits into the same category as mobility scooter, wheelchair or golf buggy. Over here in my state, mobility scooters are only legal in public if you are injured, have difficulty walking or other disability. Electric scooters were entirely illegal until recently, unless they were under powered enough to be classified as a toy (which was so low they where incapable of transporting a teenager or adult)

[Johnny555]

Because many electric "bicycles" are throttle controlled and are essentially electric motorcyles and they should be regulated as such. The "pedal assist" ones aren't so bad, but some of the more powerful ones with unrestricted motors can go 40+ mph.

Even the pedal assist ones can be a hazard by giving a rider false confidence or letting him ride faster than his capabilities. It takes a pretty experienced bike rider to sustain 25+ mph, but with electric assist, a lot more people can go that fast or faster for long periods without having developed the skills to do so safely.

[margalabargala]

Unsure where you are, but in most of the US ebikes that can go over 28mph are not ebikes. They are electric motorcycles, and must be registered as such.

You're not mad at ebikes, you're mad at people with unregistered vehicles, and potentially drivers driving motorcycles without motorcycle licenses.

[stubish]

Over here, if the engine works without pedaling or when traveling over 25km/h, it is a motorcycle, and can't even use bike lanes. But I've heard of that being enforced and the food delivery industry seems to have become dependent on them.