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You need to get up that hill first, which prevents most of those who didn't do their time on the saddle to get to higher speeds.

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People have granny gears. I see kids and the elderly and everything in between regularly coming down hills that get you to 25kph and more if you pedal a little.

I also see unfit people hike up their bike and then ride down. I'm ok with it. If it gets them moving, my hat's off to them.

Both of which are quite a bit incovinient than flipping a switch. Hats off to them indeed but an argument for unlimited electric power based on them is a bit rubbish.

I think the argument was for limited power that you can apply on top of your unlimited muscle power, regardless of speed. I don't see why it has to be so controversial. 250W is a big boost for those who can't go fast on their own; for those who can, it's a convenient and enjoyable but relatively small boost because they can already put down hundreds of watts and increased drag (which is where most of your energy goes on flat terrain at speeds over 20kph) means massively dimnishing returns.

I really don't understand why it is so controversial.

I do not feel safe sharing a bike path with a guy with zero handling skills on a heavy ass bike. What is so hard to get?

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