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Parents Are Accidentally Buying Their Kids Electric Motorcycles Instead Of E-Bikes
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this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2025
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micromobility - Bikes, scooters, boards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility
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"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.
micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"
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Legally they're supposed to ride in the street. Not the grass, or the sidewalk.
UPDATE: To clarify, this post was written with Class 1-3 ebikes in mind. Anything above that is absolutely subject to motorcycle regulations. Registration, insurance, etc.
If you mean the breakdown lane, then yes... assuming it exists on that road. If not, then you really don't have a choice. Speaking from experience, riding on a 3-6 inch mini road shoulder is a horrible experience. You're constantly checking for cars behind while simultaneously making sure you don't bonk the sidewalk curb which will topple you if you hit it.
My path list is breakdown lane > parking lot > sidewalk > dirt. Whatever keeps me clear of both pedestrians and moving cars.
They are motorcycles - they need to be ridden in the same lane as cars. You also need a drivers license with a motorcycle endorsement - which I doubt most kids have. (check your state laws, you may need to be 18 to get the motorcycle endorsement)
In my state only class one bikes (pedal assist, assist stops at 20mph) may be ridden in bike lanes or shared use paths). Each state has different laws though so check yours (and check again next year as the laws are changing)
I think we might be confusing bike types. The one I have checks out under the Class 3 e-bike specs. 28 mph max, 750W sustained motor, and no license or plates needed.
Anything above that is absolutely a motorcycle though, and will need license and registration.
there are 3 different ebike types. In my state only class one or two may be used on bike paths and sidewalks (class 2 also allowed when limited to 12mph top speed - the article says 20mph..) Class 3 is not allowed on bike paths and sidewalks, you don't need a drivers license but you must be at least 16 to use them. laws may be different in your state though, so check first.
In any case this article is about bikes that don't even meet the class 3 limits. They are motorcycles and you need license and registration - which you may not be able to get (to get registration I think you need a VIN which these probably don't have - but then again I haven't checked either the laws much less if these bikes meet those laws)
Where I live it’s illegal to ride bikes (or e-scooters) on the sidewalk. You are required to ride in the street and observe traffic laws like stop signs.
Oh dear god please tell me that's in an area with both respectful drivers and a sufficiently low 15-20 mph speed limit. All of my defensive driving experience is screaming DANGER.
There is an area like that near where I live, and it is the only place where I feel it is safe to even consider mingling with car traffic. For that area, I do exactly as you posted.