11-24-2020, 05:32 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-24-2020, 05:33 PM by danbrotherston.)
(11-24-2020, 05:04 PM)tomh009 Wrote:(11-24-2020, 03:55 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: 1) No ebikes aren't allowed on the sidewalk, because ebikes are bicycles and no bicycles are allowed on sidewalks.
2) This *IS* a MUT and yes, you must yield to bicycles, pedestrians, and any other trail user.
In general, you need to check the MUT and sidewalks for fast moving objects like people on bicycles just like you need to check a sidewalk for fast moving objects like runners, and in general when turning right you need to check for fast moving things (in our city notably trains).
Highlighting that phrase from Coke's post ... one frustration I have on our trails/MUTs that many of the "e-bikes" that fly past are not actually e-bikes (which need to have functional pedals) but e-scooters. And that's completely apart from our local MUT design issues.
Yes, leaving aside local infra, e-scooters are an interesting issue...
I know a lot of people love to hate them (including my parents) they call them DUI scooters or some nonsense. But the fact is they provide meaningful mobility for a lot of people in our community. People who lose their license (and it is hard to do) clearly should not be driving, but still deserve the same mobility as everyone else. Our transit system is not great for all people, and not everyone wants to cycle, I have no problem with people using them as a mobility device. But because of the people who usually ride them, there is a lot of prejudice.
Which brings me to regulations. The regulations around ebikes are being changed and likely most escooters will no longer be classified as ebikes (and thus will require an M-L license). This I think is absurd, and will do nothing but give police an excuse to target the type of people who ride these scooters. The only reason it is being considered is because of the group of people who are targeted. Can you imagine the letters to the editor, the screaming, the tantrums that would ensue if for example, Ontario started requiring you to have a D license to operate a 2-ton pickup. I don't think it's unreasonable, it's a huge vehicle that causes a huge amount of harm on our road, it should be licensed more strongly (G licenses are from a vending machine really). But if that change happened, there would be hell to pay, because the people who drive 2-ton pickups---leaving aside their personality---have wealth and power. People who ride escooters largely do not.
So, it suffices to say I am disappointed, I do think they could do to be regulated differently, while I don't mind them in bike lanes, I don't really like them on the trails or in parks, but I also understand on a road like Victoria, it would be extremely dangerous not to be on the trail. It's just one more way in which our transportation system fails groups of people who are easy to ignore.