this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2026
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With the greatest respect, this perspective lacks the nuance to regulate this burgeoning area of human transportation.
Even if you personally may not appreciate this type of transport, cycling provides a very profound benefit to public health, while easing the burden on infrastructure, and reducing the environmental impact from larger cars. Well designed regulation for e-bikes, promoting appropriate use, is good for everyone including motorists.
Australia really got it wrong with helmet laws and there's a wealth of data describing the harm this mis-step has cost Australians:
https://www.cycle-helmets.com/index.html
E-bikes should not require a drivers license, because operating one is not at all similar to driving a car. While risks exist, they're not the same risks one encounters while driving a car.
Compliant e-bikes can assist a rider up to a speed of 25km/h. Anything that assists you when riding faster than that is not compliant. Anything that has a throttle is not compliant.
The biggest problem presently is that parents can buy a battery and wheel hub from ali-baba for a few hundred dollars, and a 12 year old kid can strap it (literally) to a $100 k-mart bike and be weaving through traffic at 50km/h. For $1,000 or so you could construct a contraption that would get you up to 70km/h or perhaps more.
Preventing the sale of this type of non-compliant device is a sensible and obvious first step.
I dont know about your country but here in Canada we have like 7 different kinds of drivers licenses.
Driving a car is a Class 5, learners is a Class 7, motorbike is a class 6, busses are class 2, etc.
Mopeds are under Class 7, so simply getting your learners at 14, you can now drive mopeds.
E-bikes should be classified under the same as mopeds, lower speed and less dangerous than motorbikes.
I believe small dirt bikes with gas engines are also classified under class 7.
I dont think you need a class 5 or 6 to drive an ebike, thats too restrictive.
But at minimum class 7 for sure, which is literally just a simple written exam and eye exam, but whats important is legally the ability to now incur infractions on your learners.
You arent allowed to get your drivers license until you have gone 2 years without infractions here. So if you hurt somebody diving your bike, itd have true proper legal ramifications in your driving record.
And, you 100% should need insurance to drive one, just like any other motorized vehicle. Thats just basic stuff obviously.
Parents can also buy a beater car for $1000 and their child can get in drive that into traffic, whats your point. Should we stop the sale of all cars? Or do the sensible thing as we currently do and require a license+registration+insurance to buy a car?
We literally have already solved this problem with mopeds and dirt bikes like 30 years ago.
Just cuz the motor is electric instead of gas doesnt magically change anything at all.
Sorry chief cars are heavily regulated. The whole point of this article is that e-bikes should be also. Kinda shut yourself down there.
Uh we don't fuckin ban the sale of cars though, thats insane and stupid.
"Children were driving cars into people so instead of banning children from driving cars, banned the sale of them unless they cant go faster than 25km/hr"
Which, by the way, is still stupid.
Ebikes will still completely fuck a person uo if you hit them at 25km/hr.
Unlike a pedal bike, ebikes are WAY heavier and have way more momentum, so that will still cause massive damage.
The whole thing is stupid, top to bottom.
E-bikes are not cars. They're two different classes of vehicle with completely different uses, advantages, and risks.