Another scumbag kills someone with an ebike

Posted by smashcat666@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 13 comments

The govt needs to require a license, insurance and number plates on these things. Most of them I see are clearly illegal, no peddling required, travelling over 30mph through pedestrian areas. They're now the transportation of choice for drug dealers, teenage thugs and delivery riders who don't care about the law, because anyone can do what they like on them with mostly zero repercussions. It shows you the type of person who buys/steals these things, that this scumbag fled the scene after killing someone. I've had to jump out of the way of these vehicles on crossings as the scumbags who use them have no respect for anyone else.

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Lonely_Highlight4857@reddit

You cannot classify e-bikes and e-motos together. They are NOT the same.

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Hads84@reddit

We already have laws requiring exactly what you want for that type of vehicle, so your rant is about what exactly?

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Ohm_Slaw_@reddit

>> The govt needs to require a license, insurance and number plates on these things

Where I live (California) this is already true. Anything above 750 watts is a motorcycle, not an ebike. Tags, insurance and a driver's license are required. Looks like you're UK. Your limit is 250 watts.

These bikes are commonly 10 times legal limits.

We don't need more regulation. If they would just enforce the regulations already on the books, that illegal electric motorcycle would already be in the crusher.

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hasnca@reddit

Not only is there a 250W limit, but legal e bikes are limited to 15.5mph when using the motor. These bikes are never the issue, it's also the illegal e motos that cause problems. It's hard to stop them entirely, but consistent enforcement of the rules would go a long way to helping.

Also we're a smallish country with limited places to ride such bikes off road, the sellers know pretty much all of these bikes will be used on public roads. I find it disgraceful they can sell these massively over powered bikes to any yob with a bally and get away with it.

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funcentric@reddit

Not enforced though. We also need parents involved. If you know your kid is running around riding like that on an illegal device, do something about it.

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kenyasanchez@reddit

I was at an art reception and was standing outside talking to some people. Three of those big wheel ebikes came by on the sidewalk. One of the guys I was with yelled out, “How fast does it go,” and the rider replied, “65 mph.”

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Inciteful_Analysis@reddit

I'll upvote you even though this was a full year ago and should have been disclosed rather than posting it as news. The crime is still just as horrific.

Six years in prison seems like more than he would receive in the US even if he deserved more.

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funcentric@reddit

We either regulate the rider or the ride. Pick one. We can't ignore this. The more capable the bike is, the more picky we need to be on who rides it and how. Can't just go riding w/o a license, without training. Everyone is at fault, from the parents, to the bike dealer, to the city. Take responsibility.

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