Oh. You don't know the whole of it. These battery-powered motorcycles are sold to the public as e-bicycles. They are NOT bicycles. Some of them have top motor-assisted speeds of 40 mph and tires as wide as six inches.
They weigh at least a hundred pounds so God help you if your 17-pound bicycle with you on it gets hit by one of them. The City of Tampa in its leftwing stupidity at one point was actually offering rebates to any driver who bought one of these insane machines, under the assumption it meant ONE MORE CAR NOT ON THE ROAD.
Well guess what--you NEVER see one of these machines ridden on the street. The morons who ride these demonic devices on the trails are arrogant and stupid and completely out of shape physically yet endanger everyone around them who is NOT motorized.
The laws against them are not enforced. In Florida they have turned the cycling and jogging trails into potential killing zones.
The e-Bike industry has spent a lot of money greasing community and media outlet palms. It's a billions-of-dollars-a year-moneymaker for a few people, so in America this is what happens.
Yep. These things need restricted or banned. As you mention, the average E Bike weighs around 75 pounds - part of the reason is they use cheap steel - and the idea you’re getting any exercise is silly. Most people never pedal. They’re on all the bike trails around here, and it’s easy to see why - they can fly past everyone and will easily hit 30 mph on a downhill or with minimal pedal input. Worse, these are folks with minimal or no bike handling skills.
The camel’s nose under the tent was electric wheelchairs. Who could object to a disabled person getting out to enjoy the trails? But that electric exception has made the situation we have today. IMHO.