> “Since e-bikes do not require a license, drivers of e-bikes can simply ignore their traffic summons with no repercussions whatsoever, making any enforcement futile,” the police spokesperson said. However, the new requirement that cyclists appear in court, or face an arrest warrant if they fail to, creates “a strong incentive to show up in court.”
Cannot speak for its accuracy.
Anecdotally (London not NYC) I feel like I am "endangered" by e-bikes much more often than cars, because they seem to regularly skip red lights and come silently shooting out from the other side of a car while you are crossing, which a car simply cannot do. They are far heavier than a normal bike and seem to be closer to a small incredibly quiet moped.
Obviously lives-saved is the most important metric, but that doesn't mean the "feeling of safety" component is worthless. The comparison around deaths is only useful if those figures are primarily car deaths caused by running red lights.
I feel like the most sensible policy is requiring licenses for e-bikes above a certain power level (not easy!) and then bringing parity to the treatment of cars vs e-bikes after that