I think the increase of regulation on emoto type vehicles is good, but the wording of the law seems intentionally vague in order to be easier to enforce. Cant sneak by with a 20kw emoto just because you slapped some pedals on it or put lock high speed mode out from the cops so it passes testing. This is a problem for eskate because it’s vague enough that a cop on a power trip is going to apply it to anyone they don’t like.
Washington and the greater Seattle area is the poster child and original redline makers. Racism and imbalanced application of the law wasn’t invented here but we did such a bad job of it that we were under a federal scrutiny for decades. Probably should still be but the fed is even less helpful lately because of bigots.
Imho the solution is to just make a registration, something cheap and easy to do, that classifies a vehicle for certain uses and places. They did it with ice vehicles and it honestly worked out pretty well. 50cc or more and max 30mph - no restrictions - ride like a pedal bike. more than that and you need a license plate and license. If that’s not a good model why did it work for so long?
The best way to combat over regulation is to come up with reasonable regulation and get that made law instead. We should create a proposed regulation to compete or just plan skate crimes. The big push around here has been in response to injuries on the bike trails - which are being distorted to accomplish an agenda. The incidents that most people reference are actually analog pedal bikes hitting pedestrians causing hospitalizations… but then the news and angry grandpas all say ebikes are the devil
I’ve been thinking about this more, and I probably need to read up on the Kirkland law because it probably carves out exceptions for rental scooters. There is a cross kirkland corridor trail that I’d like to be able to continue riding because it’s about to get expanded. So it would be nice if the carve-out was big enough to fit a private esk8 in.
A couple of e-biker stories, one good and one bad.
First, the good. I was in Santa Cruz for a wedding and there was a BBQ on the beach. I drove down there and was amazed to see that there was available parking even though the lot only had about 30 spaces. Later I realized it was because all the kids came down on e-bikes and scooters.
On the other end a friend was trying to make a turn onto a busy road and saw a gap except she noticed something weird - 2 headlights that looked far away and not quite right. It was only at the last second that she realized it was an e-bike on the sidewalk coming up fast.
So yes, properly implemented a “junior driver” program would go a long ways. I actually think a proper motorcycle class would go a long ways to teaching these kids how to ride much more safely.
In the meantime I’ve decided not to ride where there are significant numbers of people. It’s no fun anyway.
When it’s busy like warm summer days or a busy spot like the waterfront or similar beach/attraction of some kind, i adjust my goals/attitude. It’s fun to go to crowded places if you aren’t looking to go fast or carve up a nice open space. Just plod along and enjoy the festivities i find i like the busy spots a lot more if i don’t have to drive and park near by - just hop on a train and skate around. Then when im done skate away.
Living close enough to walk is no longer a metric for me checking out something going on. Makes my city feel a lot smaller in a good way.
So, what you’re saying, is that we’d be a lot safer if all the dangerous cars were either gone, or went slower? Because every problem you mentioned would be solved if the cars weren’t there creating danger.
Personally, I hate the term “car accident” and try not to use it. These are not “accidents” any more than deaths from climate change are “accidents.” They are the direct result of infrastructure and policy decisions that have been made over the last century. “Car crashes” is a much more accurate and neutral term, though I personally prefer to call them what they are - social murder.
Dont let the narrative be hijacked by the car lobby yet again.
PEVs are significantly safer and healthier for the user, the people around them, and the cities and towns they inhabit. Arguing about kids on surrons or tourists on lime scooters is exactly what the automotive and fossil fuel interests want you to be doing. If you direct your outrage at those tiny problems, it means you aren’t directing your outrage at the deadly and destructive car culture poisoning our human world.
We should be building our world to serve humans, not to serve cars.
Legally, you don’t need to carry your ID on you so just say you left it at home. They can ask you to identify yourself but thats it. There is no law saying people who aren’t driving have to an id with them 24/7
man I had some kids on rental scooters fly out across an intersection from behind a building … almost hit them, I wasn’t expecting that, but I do now. every intersection I expect something to come flying out of the sidewalk.
I good rule of respect is if you’re going to pass a pedestrian by less than a wide margin. do so at pedestrian speeds.
but… that’s so antethetical to most people. pedal bike, eBke, PEV whatever.
There are a few people that I’ve seen around with the Surons. Riding on sidewalks at mach-jesus. Irritates me to no end. Shocker no Helmet, no riding jacket, nothing. Most of the dude-bros I see on OneWheels are also squids. A device notorious for nose-diving… and people dont wear any protective gear.
I’ve Indoctrinated a few people into the esk8 scene over the last year. Same song and dance as with Motorcycles. ATGATT.
Is it a drag? Yes. Does it make going out for a ride a process? Yes. Do we all write emails and work with our brains on the daily? Yes. Does typing with a broken wrist, road rash, arm sling, or finger tip injury suck ass? Yes.
How about sitting or standing at a desk for several hours, think having your ass full of road rash or your foot/knee/leg jacked up going to make that fun? How about being able to take a shit without having to think about it?
Kay so wear the fucking pads and put a fucking helmet on. The whole 3 minutes it takes is worth a whole lot longer of pain and irritation or worse. If you can quantify how many shits/fucks you can give above 0 to the people that think your a pussy/dork/loser/etc because you’re wearing them; Perhaps spend the money you would spend on esk8 on some therapy. Then get an eks8 (and pads+helmet).
Edit: On topic for the thread
Personal opinion, I hope my local area cracks down on the E-Motos or whatever they’re called. EUC’s aren’t all that common around here probably less than 50 total in the area. I cant stand that they’re being told (because no ins. or Reg) to ride on the sidewalks or bike paths. If these things were 150cc (or any two-wheeled ICE fwiw) hondas they’d be pitching a fit.
I’ve had a conversation with Parks & Rec as well as the Chief of Police confirming that electric boards (Skateboard & Adjacent) are so low on the list of things they care about, as far as they’re concerned if its getting people out and in the community to enjoy the outdoors, they’d be happy to see more. E-Motos however, are a different story all together especially past class 2.
Yup surron riders ruining it for everyone. Shocker… not only younglings flying past pedestrians but also grown ass men that want to act rebellious and hot shit.
Im glad to say out my way most of the ebikes and scooter riders are wearing some protective with helmet being the bare minimum. Haven’t seen anyone being a dick while riding yet thankfully hopefully that continues to be the trend otherwise ill have to be the grumpy dude on a board yelling “Ride safer asshole!”
Ngl skate is what keeps me safe, if i had a surron or a bike id probably be dead already, and some people are riding a surron before ever riding a bicycle is kinda crazy. If they had a course for spatial awareness and right of way i think wed have a lot less issues
