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California Wants to Put License Plates on E-Bikes and Slow Them Down. Cyclists Are Not Happy About It
(guessingheadlights.com)
this post was submitted on 03 May 2026
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Cars require a license that can be taken away if the driver is a danger to society. They also drive on their own roads.
An e-bike can hit pretty high speeds and is usually ridden on pedestrian walkways. There's no license to take away, and if you don't get caught immediately, you can just go bye bye since there's no license plate.
That's why they're introducing regulations limiting unlicensed e-bikes to reasonable speeds, while more powerful e-bikes are still available if you're 18 and get a license plate. You can still ride it without any training since those don't assist you past 45 km/h either... Though personally I'm of the opinion that an ebike capable of hitting 45 km/h in 2 seconds on a pedestrian walkway should require training and a license too. Or just be banned from sidewalks.
Places that allow any sort of bike on the sidewalk are generally places that have neglected to bother with any sort of adequate biking infrastructure.
Having 3 roads in one street is easier than 5 and gives everyone more space. Separate cycling lanes where I've seen them suck. We have very wide sidewalks in lots of places and riding there is expected behavior.