[gentile]

A license isn't needed for an electric bicycle. The law states that it is classified as an electric bicycle if it is only pedal assist and only up to 24kph (15mph). The issue arises when either there are no pedals, or it can be operated without using pedals, like these suitcases. Electric only operation moves the classification to a scooter, thus license needed.

https://archive.ph/Fw5lX

https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kotsu/jikoboshi/elec...

[nradov]

In China some able-bodied people have started riding electric wheelchairs to get around licensing and usage laws restricting scooters. Some of the wheelchairs are pretty quick now, basically the same drivetrain in a different package.

[throwaway2037]

I tried to Google about this but I could not find anything. Can you share a source?

[narism]

There was a new carve out created last year that allows driving electric scooters without a license, provided they meet some requirements (speed limiter, a speed indicator light, etc).

https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kotsu/jikoboshi/elec...

[throwaway2037]

How does Loop work? They are rental electric scooters.

[Danieru]

Have you noticed how Loop scooters in Japan have a tiny license plate?

That's because they require a license to rent and operate. That's because they are a self powered mobile vehicle. An automobile if you will.

Automobiles in Japan require a license to drive.

Plus you must drive them on the road, with the other automobiles.

[throwaway2037]

Late edit: I should I have written "Luup", not "Loop".

[Sparkyte]

Simple, attach non-functional pedals.

[Danieru]

You'd need functional pedals, and for the electric push to be equal or lower than the human motive power.

[tantalor]

No need, you can always just kick your feet on the ground like a balance bike.

Then the motor is only assisting your foot power, which makes it an ebike.

[cryptica]

Such a bad regulations. Rideable luggage actually seems reasonably innovative. It sucks how the government often gets in the way of meaningful improvements. Feels like we are really headed for dark ages.

[makeitdouble]

Japan has a very public problem of self powered vehicles running into people/stuff.

With an aging population, drivers who mistakingly hit the accel when they meant to brake, thus running full missile mode into shops and sidewalks make the news almost every day("Prius missile")

The last things people want is additional vehicles plowing forward at the push of a button, this time indoors and/or on the sidewalk from the start.

[cqqxo4zV46cp]

No. This is your presumably tech-informed “any regulation that gets in the way of my passing intuition of what’s good is TERRIBLE!” Have you been in a city as dense as (parts of) Japan with completely unregulated use of vehicles like this? It gets quite bad quite quickly. I say this as someone that uses an electric scooter regularly. It’s quite easy for there to be a high enough concentration of idiots doing the wrong thing that it’s not worth it overall. Putting some rules around use is just the intuitive reaction to this, learned by countless jurisdictions worldwide.

[behringer]

Sure, except for the people they inevitably run into and/or injure. Sometimes it is better to restrict these things especially in public places.