LI-ghtcycle
10 MW
I'm also interested to hear the response you get, I always carry a copy of the ORS that defines electric bicycles in Oregon, but I haven't ever been given a second look.
I think you are probably correct in that they see the bike from a distance and think it's got a gas motor, and this cop in particular is too full of himself to swallow that he made a mistake and instead tried to see if he could get you to screw up so he had a "reason" to pull you over.
I once talked to a local police officer here in Oregon City that just happened to be along my route parked early on and asked him what the law was on E-Bikes, (this was a couple years ago) and he was completely unaware, and thought it would be considered a moped (I was riding a pedal bike at the time) but there is quite a bit of E-Bikes around this area now, so I imagine there wouldn't be a similar problem here.
I think you are probably correct in that they see the bike from a distance and think it's got a gas motor, and this cop in particular is too full of himself to swallow that he made a mistake and instead tried to see if he could get you to screw up so he had a "reason" to pull you over.
I once talked to a local police officer here in Oregon City that just happened to be along my route parked early on and asked him what the law was on E-Bikes, (this was a couple years ago) and he was completely unaware, and thought it would be considered a moped (I was riding a pedal bike at the time) but there is quite a bit of E-Bikes around this area now, so I imagine there wouldn't be a similar problem here.