Proposal: limited maximum default speed

[Retrovertigo]

I know a big stick started here in the U.K when a reasonably famous (YouTuber I think she was?) got killed while riding an (illegal here) electric scooter. As if people don't get killed any other way on the roads!

But it got me thinking.....I love watching the guys in the U.S (especially in New York) riding around the streets without a care in the world, and wondered of there had been any deaths with regards electric scooters or EUC's that had made the news and caused any kind of uproar?

I know for myself, regardless of what laws might come into effect, I'll continue to ignore them if it means being gimped speed wise. I'd happily pay insurance as long as insurance companies don't get silly about it.

I mentioned this elsewhere, but an electric scooter made legal, was quoted insured for me, at over £400 per year. That is more than it would cost me to insure a 1000CC superbike. That is crazy, and I do fear that if made legal here and some kind of insurance is required, that only a small number of insurers will give cover, and charge silly prices.

[Coffee guy]

It would be interesting to know, of any early adopters of insurance , how many of you will actually be checked.

[mike_bike_kite]

One way forward might be having a basic speed limit of 25kmh but, if you had a driving license, third party insurance and a helmet, then you could go to 50kmh on the roads (not in the bike lanes). Most folk could carry on as before but, for those that want speed, they'd at least have the option.

[Mono]

8 hours ago, Retrovertigo said:

I mentioned this elsewhere, but an electric scooter made legal, was quoted insured for me, at over £400 per year.

The current insurance premium for an e-scooter in Germany is around 50 EUR per year for age above 23, and 80 EUR otherwise.

[ZoomWheelz]

I would like the electric unicycles to fly under the legislation radar as @mrelwood  suggested, but in many areas in the US, they are being wrapped up in new e-mobility and micro-mobility laws spurred on by the wave of popularity of escooter rentals.  Many of the legislators do not realize all the various personal electric vehicles that are available and what the impact would be.  If you encounter a situation where legislators are discussing new legislation that could impact the use of your favorite e-vehicle, I think it is a good idea to speak up.

Recently, I and several members of the DCESK8 group participated in a local town hall meeting for Arlington County Virginia, just across the river from Washington D.C, which was discussing and voting on proposed legislation of Shared Mobility, escooters, ebikes, electric skateboards, and any other electric micro-mobility means of transportation on roads, sidewalks, bike trails, etc:

There were many people who spoke both for more and less legislation, including representatives from Spin (Ford) and Bolt.  The board members were against banning micro-mobility and saw them as beneficial and also showed statistics that they really help increase utilization of mass transportation as people use them a lot for last mile commute.

There were good and bad things that came out of the meeting.  Although the Arlington County Transportation Commission called for less strict speed restrictions, the board ultimately voted for a much more strict 6-MPH limit on sidewalks and 15MPH limit on roads for all micro-mobility devices except ebikes, which were limited to 20MPH.  On the good side, they voted that all electric micro-mobility devices will be allowed to go anywhere that standard bikes are allowed, including bike trails.  They also noted that it would be very difficult to enforce and the police, also represented at the meeting, are not going to chase you down or use force to stop you.  They indicated that the legislation is more intended to bring awareness to proper etiquette when riding these types of devices rather than enforcement.

After the meeting, an elderly man who spoke adamantly against escooters threatened me that if I run into him with my "scooter" he will sue me.  But also, the person representing the Transportation Commission came to me and said that the legislation regarding speeds is specifically for the rented/shared companies.  He said those of us riding our personal devices can go as fast as we want.... responsibly and respectful of others, that is.

 

 

[Coffee guy]

It's nice that the transportation commission rep told you that. But remember, "if it ain't in writing...". But it's great that you and your group were there to have firsthand knowledge of what's going on in your area.

And for the elderly fart, you should've told him to join the 21st century.