From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech
cyclintom wrote:
On Wed May 13 08:33:49 2026 AMuzi wrote:
https://ktla.com/news/california/12-year-old-flown-to-trauma-center-for-major-injuries-suffered-in-e-bike-crash/
California roads sujck pretty badly on the roads in common use. So the other night while driving home
I was passed by a stand up e-scooter in the gathering dark, no light, dark clothing and just catching a red to green light. as I pulled off the light he was going 35 mphhe crossed some RR tracks and almost lost it. Good thing I knew the road and slowed up before he was thrown into my lane before recovering.
Motorized vehicle of any sort should require a licence.
I can't say that I disagree.
Last week, I encountered a guy on an e-bike that was riding the
sidewalks faster than I can ride on the road. He would go out to the
road if there wasn't any traffic, but at the slightest hint of motor
vehicles, was back on the sidewalk. And going through signals only
through pedestrian crossings.
When I caught up to him at a signal, I suggested that he needed to be
out on the road. In response, he grumbled something dismissive that I
didn't catch, but it was clear that his response was negative, and I
chose not to try to argue with him.
He was definitely going far too fast for the sidewalk (fortunately, no pedestrians), but clearly fearful of any sort of traffic, but not
getting the idea that at that speed, an e-bike *is* a motor vehicle.
Something that I wish that I could do is to encourage the local police department to consider a campaign over a few months of pushing for
proper regard of the rules of the road. A lot of things that are either missed in driver's training, or long forgotten. Especially rights of
way. But for cyclists, that includes things like the difference between
street and road, and riding with traffic rather than facing.
Smith
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2