Got busted for riding my ebike

[fechter]

You don't need some kind of medical certificate?

No. They are not allowed to ask about any details of your disability. They can get in trouble if they do.

 

[jimisbell]

I used to live in SoCal, Oceanside, and I believe CA is reaping what it has sown by their politics. My vote was to get the hell out and move to Texas in 1960 before it turned sour.

 

[2old]

My friend who is 86, but still a good rider got a medical exemption with a written note from an OC parks official and rides his "e" (which is a Class 1 vehicle) on all trails.

 

[jimisbell]

I have a neighbor that is 86 and still rides his human powered bike 15 miles a day. But I think he is nuts@!

 

[jimisbell]

Rule by majority.

Arrange a majority.

Start organising with other voters until you are the majority. Complaining isn't organising - it requires actually talking and listening.

Democracy is constant work. It's not 'set and forget'.

Amen!!!

 

[jimisbell]

In California children under 16 cannot ride an electric e-bike. Let's start there

I remember when I was 10 years old...almost 80 years ago, the city decided to license all bicycles. It was a 50 cent tax for a small metal license plate that was paid only ONCE. I was outraged! They were defacing my bike by placing a plate on the back of the seat and making ME pay for the defacing! If I had known then what government was capable of, I would have left for Mars then.
In those days I could walk down the street with a loaded pistol on my hip and a double barrel 12GA on my shoulder and no one bothered me. Life was more polite in those days. More gentle. People didn't hassle each other when the possible outcome could be lethal and immediate. Now we have laws and people get killed every day. Some how the result was not what they intended.. Now if there is an infraction it can take many years to resolve the problem. I yearn for the simple solutions of yesteryear.

 

[neptronix]

Serious Yosemite Sam energy right there, i like it

 

[jimisbell]

Things are improving. Here in Texas I can once again wear a pistol on my hip and carry a 12ga on my shoulder.

 

[fechter]

Fast forward 3 years...
I've been stopped by a ranger a few more times and used the "Other Power Driven Mobility Device" excuse and they all let me pass.

Now the Marin County Parks Department is taking public comment about allowing Class 1 ebikes on the trails. At the end of September they will review the comments and make a decision.

The survey is here:
Class 1 eBike Survey

If anyone has an argument why eBikes should be allowed on the trails, it would be nice to post it there.

The survey is very short and has a space for written comments.
It also asks for you zip code. I guess they will value comments from local folks more.
Below is a zip code map of the area.

The trails are currently open to hikers, dog walkers, horses, and non-electric bikes.
About half the bikes I see these days are ebikes.

 

[neptronix]

I pitched in.

 

[fechter]

Thanks!
It will be interesting to see what happens.

 

[2old]

Seems like in the "OC" and surrounding area they let individual state park Rangers make the decision. The county park Rangers apparently aren't smart enough, and "e's" are prohibited universally, but since it's not policed in most parks, ridden at will. IMO, if a park is crawling with hikers, bikers (and maybe equestrians), no "e's" while if usage is more sparse, fine (most of the parks here are very "unused".

 

[E-HP]

So far I haven’t seen signs of any type of monitoring on east bay trails, and I haven’t even looked to see if there are even any rules. Also, most e-bikes I see on the multiuse paths seem to be illegal relative to the laws put in place this year. The only cops I see on the trail are on cop e-bikes, but they aren’t enforcing laws on the trail, just commuting to work, and part of the normal law enforcement (cars, people). That said, I’m sure the e-bikes > evil hysteria will make its way over eventually. I think it will be a couple more years before they make the standup scooter I just got illegal, so I have another option for now.