I used to own a 50cc Vespa scooter to get around town. There was something fun and romantic about it, and it fit the Santa Barbara roads and lifestyle nicely. Top speed was about 30mph, downhill with a tailwind. It was easy to park, very fuel efficient, and genuinely fun to ride. To operate it, I had to pass a motorcycle written test to get a license, carry insurance, register it with the state, and get a license plate. It wasn’t a big deal and seemed fair. The scooter had real performance, real responsibilities, and real consequences if something went wrong.
We have a business on State Street, so I see e-bikes on a daily basis. I find myself trying to make sense of the e-bike situation, but it just doesn’t add up.
Any e-bike rolling past often weighs 60 to 80 pounds, is able to hit 25-35 miles per hour, is ridden by people of all ages, and requires nothing from the rider. No license. No plates. No registration. No insurance. And, in most cases, no helmet. None of the things that the Vespa required even though they are very similar in performance and size. The difference is that one runs on gas, the other on electricity.