Spain just went full flat-earther (ban on esk8 and other PEVs)

u r not supposed to hold it with ur hand :shushing_face:

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I like to make myself extra annoying to their mirrors if they try anything stupid with me

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That’s the idea, yes.

As I said, here in Norway its not really a problem, because the speed in the places where you share the road with cars are usually 20kmh anyway. Roads with higher speeds tend to have a separated bike/pedestrian lane. Don’t get me wrong tho, I would love for the speed limit to be higher.

I get the impression that large parts of USA are suburban hellscapes, stroads and highways, so in that case 20kmh is way too low lmao.

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I think the rationale is that if it only goes as fast as a bicycle, then it doesn’t need licensing like a bicycle. Same goes for power, 250W is a typical power output over long durations for a middleweight, physically fit male bicycle rider.

A low speed/power unlicensed class plus a high speed/power class with a minimal license is something I could get behind. (If it means that something worse doesn’t happen instead) Under the current laws in NYC our machines have similar capabilities to the top class of mopeds, which require a motorcycle license, which is really overkill for our weight class and the mechanical skills involved aren’t even the same.

florida doesnt even require helmets on motorcycles by law.
come to the dark side

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But my helmet looks so damn sexy

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oh, definitely wear one. but we wont make you.

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That sounds great, but I’m one of those northern folk who’s allergic to heat :confused:

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2 nights ago it was 33 in punta gorda, florida, and 34 in anchorage, alaska.
im surprised we arent dropping like flies down here right now. fr tho we hate regulation here. you can pay like $19 a month for auto insurance that doesnt cover a damn thing besides making you street legal.
i shall skate year round, forever.

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Yeah but no one is telling the super fit spandex biker bros to slow down

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bikes are grandfathered in. were the new kids on the block. :frowning:

Lol yeah but you’re assuming that the regs are grounded in reality. I think what’s going on is that they are concerned with the distinction that the law has always made between Motor Vehicles and everything else. They probably figured that if they restrict the capabilities to no more than what the fastest human can do, then the law doesn’t need to consider the machine a Motor Vehicle. Because Motor Vehicles are an important thing that require important regulations.

I didn’t realize until recently it’s legal to ride a push skateboard on sidewalks in California… thought I’d been breaking the laws this whole time. With regard to the obsession with imposing speed limits on PEV’s I think they assume most people will be riding them illegally on the sidewalk, and so the imposed speed limits are an effort to protect pedestrians. Honestly I think they should be allowed on sidewalks where there’s no bike lanes, or else some sidewalks should be converted to bike lanes. Why do pedestrians need a sidewalk on both sides of the road?

I will say I am not a fan of speed restriction mandates (I think it should be optional) but that said I do believe restricting to 15mph does / 250w does make you safer… with tiny wheels it gives you more time to spot upcoming obstacles and less injury if you do go down. One good safety reason to limit power / torque is preventing the torque from exceeding the tire traction. I’ve personally been injured on a PEV while turning at low speed while accelerating in a high power mode causing the torque to exceed the traction leading to $1500 in ER bills when my road rash got infected. Now I wear full pads and keep it under 20mph / under 500w… for my own safety. Unlike cars we aren’t wrapped in a cage of metal armor so its best to be cautious.

That said I’m more often riding a push skateboard than an electric one or an escooter… I like getting the exercise.

this made me think about something; top speed can be changed on almost any board so easily. change out a gear, pulley, or wheel size, and the top speed changes. that really makes these laws far more complicated to enforce.

Or in my case they are fascinated so drive behind you on a twisting back road ,refuse to pass, even when I slow and stop ,step ooff the road they wave me on like” go on I’m fascinated,I want to see if you fall and what it sounds like when you and that thing go under my car”

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I’ve never had a car refuse to pass me when I let them lol

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they always just pull up next to me and go “hey man how are you doing that?”

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Oh don’t get me started!! 4 wide on a 2 lane road, twisty, uphill 12 mph will not move 15 cars behind them, someone in a cage looses their mind, then all are in danger . This behavior is what causes close passes and dangerous interactions. Just treat people the way you want to be treated. Even if you “have the right to the whole lane” that doesn’t mean it’s the safest thing. You do not know the state of mind of drivers, they might have just walked in on a cheating spouse etc, physics are not on your side. I’ve seen motorcycle riders kick cars because the car was being a dick,totally out of line, then the car try’s to KILL the biker. It’s a crazy world, if you really aren’t looking for trouble,don’t court disaster, some one is always willing to go further than you are.

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I’m happy to hear that, hope you never do. Me 9 times at least on wildcat canyon road , there are pot holes,well they will cause a wreck so passing me ASAP when I’m obviously look back to acknowledge you are there, pull as far over as I can is appreciated, now I usually just step off the road and my board. I’m all about sharing the road, I’m not a bike, the reality of a fall is different.