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E-bikes are a fantastic way to get around, offering plenty of practical mobility while massively cutting a person’s consumption of oil and contribution to climate change. But e-bikes also have a darker side: They offer kids, who love to do moron shenanigans on two wheels, more power at less money than ever before. Now, jurisdictions are starting to crack down on such behavior, and Irvine, California is the latest among them.
Local outlet Voice of OC reported the new moves from the Irvine City Council, which are on their way to becoming hard and fast regulations. The city is taking a number of approaches towards curbing e-bike recklessness, from heavy fines for unruly behavior to possible impounding of bikes — even threatening to hold minor riders’ parents liable. Many of the changes focus around speed limits on bike trails, which are likely an easy change for the city to both make and enforce in a fair manner.
I don’t envy lawmakers tasked with regulating e-bikes
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Regulating e-bikes is tricky, and not just for logistical reasons. On the one hand, e-bikes allow today’s kids the kind of freedom that prior generations took for granted — teaching them independence and safety all on their own. On the other hand, though, e-bikes pose a genuine danger to their riders. These machines are heavier and faster than traditional bicycles, and the injuries their riders earn through improper use can be more severe than wounds a cyclist may get. Curbing wanton misuse of e-bikes is a noble endeavor, provided it’s coming from a genuine concern for safety and not NIMBY whining. Hopefully that’s what the Irvine City Council has in mind: Protecting the health of kids who just want to take their bikes out for a ride.
