Trying to build this bike myself but is it legal if I make it? Sub 750watt
Posted by mini_reno_welding@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 4 comments
I've been reading my local penal codes and wish to make my own from scratch legally for someone disabled to commute. It appears these are legally class 2 but I am confused because all language on class definitions mention operable pedals but this lime bike has no pedals? Obviously the police are not impounding these off the downtown streets so these must be the model legal ebike, I see videos online of how cops go after legal ebikes the second you take your cranks off your bottom bracket so this is very confusing to me.
I by no means have the intentions of being some inflammatory emoto outlaw making this post, I have a family member who is physically challenged in her knees she just wants pedaling speeds with enough torque to get up a hill.
Why not just not pedal?
It's difficult for her to have her legs in a staggered position with the pedals especially with them being able to rock up and down.
No_Preparation4020@reddit
Amazon sells e scooters that are just bikes no pedals
Happy_Humor5938@reddit
Think they’re arguing it is a seated scooter/ glider. You would theoretically be able to push it like a scooter. If you could make and win that same argument idk. These things are blurring lines of speed, power and platform. Seems to be some mention of accessibility like it’s for disabled people but no such limitations or distinctions on who rides them.
paxtana@reddit
I think if your physically disabled family member ever got a ticket for non-functional pedals on an otherwise conforming ebike she would have decent grounds for fighting it on the basis of ADA accommodations, assuming she already has documented medical history reflecting this. Who knows if she would win though; tickets are relatively rare and even rarer for them to be fought so the odds of there being settled case law specifically about whether disability means you don't have to worry about an ebike law is unlikely.
Maybe a more practical solution would be to use pegals. The pedals would be functional, but they also work as pegs. So in theory she would avoid a ticket since the pedals do work, they just also happen to have additional features. Then in the unlikely event she got a ticket anyway she could fight it as described above.
CantaloupeEven6341@reddit
Cities make money from their contracts with companies such as Lime so of course cops aren’t going to target anyone using those responsibly. Just don’t take the pedals off your diy e-bike and then you’ll be fine. Just because the pedals are still on the bike doesn’t mean they have to be used. Plus it’s good to have working pedals as a just in case for if the battery dies so then the rider isn’t stranded.