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Comment by rdtwo | Hacker News Reader

I don’t get it what an ebike really brings that wasn’t already available in a moped or scooter? At least for me the #1 reason I don’t bike much is that there is no way to get places safely. Sharing the road with cars is quite risky while not quite motor cycle risky still very high risk that’s simply not worth it.

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Can't speak for everywhere but in Washington state almost anything sold as a scooter or moped in fact requires a full motorcycle endorsement, liability insurance, annual registration, etc. The cutoff for a motorcycle endorsement is a max 49cc motor or 2 brake horsepower, which excludes nearly everything sold as a scooter that I can find.

You are certainly right that in most of the US biking infrastructure is embarrassingly bad, hopefully if pedal-assist ebikes get more popular that will spur more investment in bike paths and separated infrastructure.

I see the appeal in using them to skirt regulations and travel in the bike only trails or to go into dnr lands or non motorized trails but they are also like 50-60lb bikes. Super heavy and not a lot of fun to just pedal without assistance.

As someone who did loads of mountain biking in high school, I like bicycles more than mopeds or scooters. It is hard for me to explain why, but I’d feel more comfortable going off road on a bicycle, it feels cooler, and it’s just what I’m used to.

The right to use bike lanes and to park on sidewalks / inside buildings.

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