benend
100 mW
This has probably been talked to death here, but I'd like to post what I've found. A friend of mine mentioned that part of my commute was on National Park territory - and it specifically states on an official sign: "No Motorized Bicycles" - according to him.
So it comes to the definition of motorized bike. If you have an ebike that can go over 20MPH - with pedaling - then it's prohibited. If it can't go that fast, then it's not a "Motorized Bicycle" and is okay (as long as it's under 1000W).
Now I have to consider this for my DIY bike - it should not have high gears, high enough to keep up with the motor at full speed. That means a low front sprocket tooth count and a single sprocket - no triple chain rings (at least none with a higher tooth count).
Here are the laws:
V C Section 406 Motorized Bicycle
Motorized Bicycle
406.
(a) A “motorized bicycle” or “moped” is a two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power, or having no pedals if powered solely by electrical energy, and an automatic transmission and a motor that produces less than 4 gross brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground.
(b) A "motorized bicycle" is also a device that has fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power and has an electric motor that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts. [so more than that makes it a moped/motorcycle]
(2) Is incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on ground level. [governors regulate this]
(3) Is incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power is used to propel the motorized bicycle faster than 20 miles per hour. [this is the bone of contention, I think]
http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php
That means that a bike with a Cycle Analyst that has multiple power levels that allows "illegal" speeds on-demand is a "motorized bicycle" and illegal in national parks - and probably elsewhere...
So it comes to the definition of motorized bike. If you have an ebike that can go over 20MPH - with pedaling - then it's prohibited. If it can't go that fast, then it's not a "Motorized Bicycle" and is okay (as long as it's under 1000W).
Now I have to consider this for my DIY bike - it should not have high gears, high enough to keep up with the motor at full speed. That means a low front sprocket tooth count and a single sprocket - no triple chain rings (at least none with a higher tooth count).
Here are the laws:
V C Section 406 Motorized Bicycle
Motorized Bicycle
406.
(a) A “motorized bicycle” or “moped” is a two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power, or having no pedals if powered solely by electrical energy, and an automatic transmission and a motor that produces less than 4 gross brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on level ground.
(b) A "motorized bicycle" is also a device that has fully operative pedals for propulsion by human power and has an electric motor that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Has a power output of not more than 1,000 watts. [so more than that makes it a moped/motorcycle]
(2) Is incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on ground level. [governors regulate this]
(3) Is incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power is used to propel the motorized bicycle faster than 20 miles per hour. [this is the bone of contention, I think]
http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/other-types.php
That means that a bike with a Cycle Analyst that has multiple power levels that allows "illegal" speeds on-demand is a "motorized bicycle" and illegal in national parks - and probably elsewhere...