| How times have changed from the days when man's | | | | adopting the federal law is still under advisement, and |
| only reliable means of conveyance was to walk | | | | the law itself is seen as a guideline in so doing. At the |
| everywhere! Indeed, even in living memory for most of | | | | present time, for example, New York is still debating |
| us there have been developments in existing modes | | | | the text of its law on e-bikes and they are, for the |
| of transport and innovations of other, newer types | | | | moment, not permitted on the roads. This is expected |
| which have made for a wide choice of vehicles for | | | | to change when the law is finalized in the State |
| enjoyment and transport. Of these forms of transport, | | | | Senate. |
| an interesting one is the electric bicycle. In actual fact | | | | These laws are slightly less restrictive than some of |
| the electric cycle has been in existence in one form or | | | | the laws currently in existence in the rest of the world. |
| another since 1895 - but development on the medium | | | | In many parts of Europe the law is similar to that in the |
| has been inconsistent, and there is little widespread | | | | US, with a slightly less forgiving speed limit of 25 |
| agreement even on how to categorize them. | | | | kilometers an hour (16 mph). The law in Canada is |
| Mindful of how this could lead to problems, the US | | | | broadly similar to that in the US, with minor textual |
| Federal Government has recently taken steps to | | | | nuances all that differ from the American model. |
| standardize the laws surrounding electric bikes. It is | | | | The overall impression given by and relevant to the |
| now a federal law that, as long as an electric bike | | | | law on electric bikes is that as long as the cyclist sticks |
| cannot travel at any more than 20 miles per hour on | | | | to the rules of the road as governed by their state and |
| its own stored power, it is to be treated under the | | | | relating to an ordinary pedal bike, the need to legislate |
| laws of the road like any other pedal bicycle. Should | | | | any more firmly on electric bikes is limited at most. A |
| the cyclist wish to power it to move faster than that, it | | | | speed of about 20 mph is considered to be a typical |
| remains a bicycle under the laws of the land, as only | | | | cruising speed for a bicycle powered by a human |
| the existing road speed limits apply to a proficient road | | | | anyway - slower than that and they will need to be |
| cyclist. | | | | pushing on the pedals merely to remain upright. |
| This means that, in general, there is no requirement for | | | | Nonetheless, anyone taking to the roads on an electric |
| the cyclist on an electric bike to have a license for it. | | | | bike will need to be fully capable of handling it at |
| That said, different states have different laws on the | | | | speeds of 20 mph, or they will certainly face legal |
| bikes and in some cases they are banned from the | | | | questions. |
| road altogether. In these states, the process of | | | | |