Electric Bicycle Association???

[Ykick]

As the ranks of eBikers grow I suspect there's going to be more and more need for expert information and/or testimony regarding our technology.

For example, if Congress, local governments and/or courts of law need "expert" eBike testimony, where would they go to find it? Google? LBS?

Here at ES we already enjoy a type of "association" that possess what I believe to be the most comprehensive body of knowledge related to eBike standards and practices in the world. Perhaps this should be taken a little further with formal creation of an association comprised of practicing experts from the field?

I can only guess it would require some paperwork - election of leadership, operating budget, tax status and approval of standards, practices and definitions? To name a few... I also have no idea how to do something like this but if we don't we're likely to end up with very poor facts on record as these issues develop in either legal proceedings and/or legislation?

Is there already something like this? Thoughts please?

 

[Ypedal]

http://www.levassociation.com/

 

[AppleTown]

I know lots of lawyers really well (personally, not professionally), am good friends with politicians in both local and national government, and am really good friends with several people who supplement their profession/academical careers with steady expert witness work in fields like construction, engineering, public policy, culture history and energy policy.

Testimony or lobbying in government is mostly about who you know and your ability connect with your local representative of the body you're dealing with. I don't mean to imply this as a bad thing. Anyone can approach their local state senator or US House representative (well, approach their staff) and go from their.

Testimony as an expert for legal issues is a different issue. Most of the expert witnesses I know started small and got into it because a local or regional lawyer found their name connected to their specific field of expertise. Most are academics with a specialty and got more work because attorneys share info about good experts all the time. I know one construction safety expert witness with a really great reputation in the field because of his experience working with both plantiffs and defendants. He's often been hired by an attorney who was previously on the losing side of his testimony. Several expert witnesses I know have gotten work via organizations like TASA (Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys) or even placing adds in the back of many of the state Bar magazines. Of course registering with TASA means they take a cut.

An association means something, except when it doesn't. Plenty of associations or lobby groups are astroturf and, while they might get your foot in the door, they are often exposed for being skeletons. A real trade/lobby association has real power, but it also takes a lot of time to run.

 

[Ykick]

The Light Electric Vehicle Association (LEVA) represents the strategic interests of light electric vehicle retailers, dealers, distributors, manufacturers and suppliers to promote the development, sale, and use of LEVs worldwide. Members receive support and educational resources to expand their businesses while initiating efforts to influence and adopt legislation, regulation, performance standards, promotion and general best practices in the light electric vehicle industry.


That's great if you're running a business in the industry but I'm thinking more along the lines of what we, as end users do with eBike technology? I'm sure the guys at Currie, Pedego, etc., ride a bit but they're not out on all the roads all the time living with this form of transportation the way many of us do.

'guess I'm dreaming about an association that can help define the real world applications of eBikes without so much economic motive? Pretty much what already happens here but without having to dig into so many long threads to find it, LOL...

 

[AppleTown]

That's great if you're running a business in the industry but I'm thinking more along the lines of what we, as end users do with eBike technology? I'm sure the guys at Currie, Pedego, etc., ride a bit but they're not out on all the roads all the time living with this form of transportation the way many of us do.

'guess I'm dreaming about an association that can help define the real world applications of eBikes without so much economic motive? Pretty much what already happens here but without having to dig into so many long threads to find it, LOL...

Yes, there's a big different between a trade organization and a user advocacy organization. Their motives sometimes intersect, but are probably as nearly often at odds. You'd do better to get involved with one of the several local and national user/bicycling advocacy groups like Transportation Alternatives http://www.transalt.org/.

 

[Ykick]

Yes, there's a big different between a trade organization and a user advocacy organization. Their motives sometimes intersect, but are probably as nearly often at odds. You'd do better to get involved with one of the several local and national user/bicycling advocacy groups like Transportation Alternatives http://www.transalt.org/.

Thanks, I appreciate the input. Transalt is cool but I don't see them understanding eBikes anymore than the next guy in Lycra? 'guess that's a good reason to join?

there's this:

http://www.beba-online.co.uk/British_Electric_Bicycle_Association_-_BEBA/Home.html

Appears to be more "trade" than "advocacy" but not much has been going on lately, it seems?

As usual, political/legal situation revovles around money and "who-you-know" rather than genuine practice and knowledge.

 

[AppleTown]

...Transalt is cool but I don't see them understanding eBikes anymore than the next guy in Lycra? 'guess that's a good reason to join?...

Indeed, the idea of bringing yourself into the larger bicycling fold or green energy fold or commuter/road user advocacy fold is a good thing. Cooperative and collective action is far preferable to parsing us into individuals with no power and no interaction. Transportation Alternatives is more than the lycra crowded as they do non-lycra pedestrian and bus rider advocacy as well. They are actually sort of pro-electric bike in wanting them legalized and enforced like all bicycles (ie. minimum regulation to use, but actual enforcement of safety laws and rider training to increase the respect they are given and earn them a real place on the open road) instead of getting them lumped into the same category as motorcycles.

Of course, Transportation Alternatives is just one group in one region. Other groups exist all over the country and its best to start local.

 

[Ykick]

Transportation Alternatives is more than the lycra crowded as they do non-lycra pedestrian and bus rider advocacy as well. They are actually sort of pro-electric bike...

My bad attempt at irony! Yes, there's a lot more going on than "Lycra advocacy", LOL... Main point seems to be about reducing cars which will always make roads safer for lightweight transportation.

Excellent website with very useful traffic logistic information plus links to local laws, various events, etc. Well done, makes me want to join, thank you for the helpful conversation.

http://bikingrules.org/rules/streetcode

 

[Uncle Ron]

Ykick,

Have I ever got some thoughts on this. (g) But I'm not gonna kick 'em around just now, because they need some back story, that I don't have time to write today. I'll try and get it down over the weekend and bring it out in a new thread. You're setting it up just fine. I am so happy to see someone else thinking along these lines and along a few related lines that I hadn't even considered. Good on ya!

Here's a teaser for you. Ask your self what the overwhelming majority of us here are most interested in and why we come here? Sure we wanta e-ride, some for sport, some for more practical reasons. But once we are riding why do we keep coming back? It's because of the constant collaborative innovation, isn't it? That's something we could build on to take ES a whole big step further, since it's already the premiere tool on the web for this. I know that smacks of bureaucracy. Although that can't be entirely avoided, it can be minimized and democratized to reach a goal of making the ES tool into a more efficient and wide reaching engine, wide reaching into the areas that you identify here and more. More to come.

Ron Shook

As the ranks of eBikers grow I suspect there's going to be more and more need for expert information and/or testimony regarding our technology.

For example, if Congress, local governments and/or courts of law need "expert" eBike testimony, where would they go to find it? Google? LBS?

Here at ES we already enjoy a type of "association" that possess what I believe to be the most comprehensive body of knowledge related to eBike standards and practices in the world. Perhaps this should be taken a little further with formal creation of an association comprised of practicing experts from the field?

I can only guess it would require some paperwork - election of leadership, operating budget, tax status and approval of standards, practices and definitions? To name a few... I also have no idea how to do something like this but if we don't we're likely to end up with very poor facts on record as these issues develop in either legal proceedings and/or legislation?

Is there already something like this? Thoughts please?

 

[neptronix]

..All i'm sayin Ykick... is if you start an association, i'll be the first member.

We do need some clout, just like bicycling groups have some clout. We are misunderstood by bicyclists and i don't think integration will happen, so IMHO we need to have a separate organization..

 

[Ykick]

I'm not the crusader type but I believe there's enough of us to organize noticeable representation for high standards of professionalism, a greater appreciation for our technology and the success of the worldwide electric bicycle community.

Here on ES we already meet around the world and come from so many diverse backgrounds. Sorta like music associations/societies we have this wonderful thing in common that binds us together. I guess what I'm saying is that it sure seems like we're already on this path...