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Comment by hnuser123456 | Hacker News Reader

I have a class 3 ebike, so 20mph throttle-only, 28mph if you pretend to pedal for whatever reason. The requirement to pedal is more dangerous than the speed. It's fast, but on a long, straight, paved path, it's not that scary, and I wanted to go faster. If I could just throttle it up to 35mph, I wouldn't even need bike lanes around town. 45mph, and I could easily get to the next town over. It's a lighter, slower, cheaper motorcycle that doesn't need a license, registration, insurance, or gasoline. I really do think we should add a few more classes for higher speeds, and I don't think we need more barriers to entry either. I'm not sure what about this is worth laughing at?

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> It's a lighter, slower, cheaper motorcycle that doesn't need a license, registration, insurance, or gasoline.

There's a reason why motorcycles need those things. As well as why they have those thick tires, suspension, large disc brakes, require proving that you know how to operate them, and the law requires you at least wear a helmet.

> If I could just throttle it up to 35mph, I wouldn't even need bike lanes around town. 45mph, and I could easily get to the next town over.

The "higher class" of which you speak has existed for a long time, albeit usually fulfilled by gas powered vehicles until recently: https://www.vespa.com/us_EN/models/primavera/primavera-50-4s...

There's a reason why we require license, registration, and insurance to operate mopeds but not bicycles. You're far more dangerous to pedestrians, other cyclists, and yourself at these kinds of speeds.

>There's a reason why we require license, registration, and insurance to operate mopeds but not bicycles

Pedestrian dander is a stupid red herring. When cyclists ride in the road they are at most equal danger to pedestrians as the cars in the road.

That reason mopeds are neutered by regulation is that the Karens of yesteryear didn't like the noises they made. A few dumb people riding them on the sidewalk was just the pretext.

> When cyclists ride in the road they are at most equal danger to pedestrians as the cars in the road.

When e-cyclists ride in the road and obey the same traffic laws as cars in regard to traffic lights, stop signs, pedestrian crossings, and direction of traffic. But in practice a majority of them don't.

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