Articles Posted in E-bike

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Man-on-e-bike-300x200A recent accident in Key Biscayne, Florida, involving a 12-year-old riding an e-bike and a traditional bicycle, tragically resulted in the death of the bicyclist, Megan Andrews, a career-educator and pillar in the community. This incident has once again brought the dangers of e-bikes, particularly when operated by younger riders, into sharp focus.

Key Biscayne’s local leaders, under massive public pressure, approved a temporary complete ban on e-bikes during an emergency meeting. The temporary ban will be in place for 60 days, the maximum length of time the Village could approve without running afoul of the law. The ban applies all roads of the Village of Key Biscayne except for Crandon Boulevard (the main and highest-traffic roadway of Key Biscayne) because it is owned and regulated by Miami-Dade County.

Electric bikes, or e-bikes, have become increasingly popular in the entire country, including Florida. However, when it comes to children using e-bikes and the dangers they bring, the legislator has dropped the ball miserably by failing to address crucial safety concerns:

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At the beginning of 2020, a new moped-sharing company was authorized to launch in Miami. South Florida became the latest theater of operation for the Brooklyn-based company, Revel, which is already operational in five States across the country. The app-based business that launched about a year ago is in full flurry and joins the e-scooter businesses that have been allowed to operate across countries and continents for three years.

While the ability to rent a fast-moving mobility vehicle at your fingertips sounds exciting, the disregard to the public’s safety remains incredibly unchecked. As a result, there has been an incredible increase in untrained riders sharing the road with bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists.  Much like its predecessors, Revel offers its customers the possibility to rent and ride a moped 24/7 by simply using their free phone-app. The app requires riders to be 21 with a valid driver’s license and a credit card. The app offers free lessons to beginners and requires that all riders wear a helmet included with the scooter.

A quick review of the Help section of the company’s website describes that Revel revokes the $25,000 liability insurance if the rider does not to wear a helmet (It is legal in Florida to ride a 2-wheel vehicle without a helmet if you are over 21). In other words, if a helmet-less Revel rider hits you while crossing the street, Revel will not cover for your injuries, despite their permissible driver’s negligence. Rather, Revel tells us that the rider’s car insurance policy will step in its stead. All good now? Not quite. In Florida, a moped is always excluded from car insurance policies, which means that you were just injured by an uninsured driver. As the victim, you are now responsible for your own medical bills and there is nothing you can do about it.

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The E-bike Epidemic.

Like disease bearing mosquitos, E-bikes have taken over the safety and tranquility of the American modern city.  They are everywhere, left randomly on streets, sidewalks and alleys, littering our cityscape with unsightly and unusual dangers.  If you haven’t noticed, greed and stupidity have invaded your everyday life, with a strong promise to make your locomotion more dangerous, fill the emergency rooms with foreseeable hazards, and threaten the overall well-being of the public to fill the coffers of some and the thrills of others.

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Why the E-bike?  There is no good explanation!  Under the present regime, this motorized and bastardized “bike” can travel at speeds up to 30 mph.  But, travel where and driven by whom?  There is no designation or provision as to where these insects may go or land. Do they belong on the street, the sidewalk, in bike lanes, shopping centers, parking lots, malls, or just anywhere they please… Again, no rules!  Can they be driven by an 8 year-old, an 80 year-old, is there training, instruction, guidance, rules or requirements for operation?  Again, no!

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