Summer is here and cyclists are out on the roads and in the parks. E-bikes have become especially popular whether they are pedal assist or 100% electric.
South Shore Press spoke to Roger Young from Krebs Cycle bicycle shop who services E-bikes. Krebs Cycle has locations in Bellport at 10 Bell St. and Eastport at 496 Montauk Hgwy. The Bellport location has a long history being in business over 35 years.
“A lot of folks who buy these bikes don't realize how fast and dangerous they can be. They are a lot of fun and a great way to get around either for short commutes or sight seeing, but you have to follow the basic safety rules,” said Young.
E-bikes can cause confusion for many users. How fast can they go, do they need a license plate, can I drive on the road?
There are three classes of e-Bikes. Class 1 is pedal assist only. Class two is throttle and pedal assist up to 20 miles an hour. Class three is throttle 20 miles an hour and pedal assist up to 28.
Young added, “I view e-bikes as kind of a replacement for a car, which is perfect for the our area. Get on your bike, go to the store, you lock it up outside, do your shopping and ride home. It's kind of silly to use your car for that mile round trip.”
New York State law allows people to operate E-Scooters and E-Bikes on some streets and highways in New York State. The highways must have a posted speed limit of 30 MPH or less. You cannot operate these devices on a sidewalk except as authorized by local law or ordinance. Whereever possible e-bikes should be used on bike lanes. New York City has its own e-bike laws.
Young said as far as safety on e-bikes, “Helmets, for sure and definitely make sure that your e-bike is compliant within the three classes and also UL certified. That really is a big issue in New York City because of all the fires in the apartments. That has to do with the battery stability and battery safety, because e-bikes use lithium batteries.”
“In NYC, your e-bike will be impounded if the battery is not UL certified,” said Young.
The growing use of e-bikes in New York City has underlined the importance that they be used responsibly and safely to avoid accidents involving pedestrians or other road users. While existing regulations limit e-bike width and speed, they do not address maximum weight, which directly correlates with the severity of injuries in accidents.
To address this, Governor Hochul will propose reclassifying ultra-heavy Class 3 e-bikes weighing 100 pounds or more as mopeds, requiring a driver’s license and registration to operate. This change will keep the heaviest and most dangerous e-bikes out of bike lanes, improving safety for pedestrians and other cyclists. It is expected this change would eventually apply statewide.