I live in the commonwealth of Va, USA, and happily ride my ebike to work every day being one less car on the road. I built my ebike specifically so I could ride on the roads and not be a traffic hazard - so the top speed is above the "legal" top speed of 20mph for an electric powered bike (I'll leave it at that
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Virginia is proposing to prohibit mopeds on roads where the posted speed limit is higher than 35 mph. Considering my ebike probably is more of a moped than a bicycle, I wrote to the Va legislature voicing my opposition. Here is the text of the bill:
history | pdf
13102253D
SENATE BILL NO. 731
Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled December 12, 2012
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-914 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the operation of mopeds on highways.
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Patrons-- Carrico; Delegate: Ransone
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Referred to Committee on Transportation
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.2-914 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 46.2-914. Limitations on operation of mopeds.
A. No moped shall be driven on any highway or public vehicular area faster than 35 miles per hour. Any person who operates a moped faster than 35 miles per hour shall be deemed, for all the purposes of this title, to be operating a motorcycle.
B. No moped shall be driven on any highway by any person under the age of 16, and every person driving a moped shall carry with him some form of identification that includes his name, address, and date of birth.
C. Operation of mopeds is prohibited on any Interstate Highway System component.
D. Operation of mopeds is prohibited on any highway where the posted speed limit is greater than 35 miles per hour.
E. Violation of this subsection shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of no more than $50.
If you live in Va please consider writing to your state senator to voice your opinion. This is a step in the wrong direction, IMO, where we should be ALLOWING alternative modes of transportation. Instead, these knuckleheads want to make it illegal. Sheesh.
)Virginia is proposing to prohibit mopeds on roads where the posted speed limit is higher than 35 mph. Considering my ebike probably is more of a moped than a bicycle, I wrote to the Va legislature voicing my opposition. Here is the text of the bill:
history | pdf
13102253D
SENATE BILL NO. 731
Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled December 12, 2012
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-914 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the operation of mopeds on highways.
----------
Patrons-- Carrico; Delegate: Ransone
----------
Referred to Committee on Transportation
----------
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.2-914 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 46.2-914. Limitations on operation of mopeds.
A. No moped shall be driven on any highway or public vehicular area faster than 35 miles per hour. Any person who operates a moped faster than 35 miles per hour shall be deemed, for all the purposes of this title, to be operating a motorcycle.
B. No moped shall be driven on any highway by any person under the age of 16, and every person driving a moped shall carry with him some form of identification that includes his name, address, and date of birth.
C. Operation of mopeds is prohibited on any Interstate Highway System component.
D. Operation of mopeds is prohibited on any highway where the posted speed limit is greater than 35 miles per hour.
E. Violation of this subsection shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of no more than $50.
If you live in Va please consider writing to your state senator to voice your opinion. This is a step in the wrong direction, IMO, where we should be ALLOWING alternative modes of transportation. Instead, these knuckleheads want to make it illegal. Sheesh.
