busted again

[justadad1957]

it was 415 am and i was on my way to work
ear buds in and my mp3 player cranked up
i never saw the local cop but ...
he said i was speeding , ran two stop signs and was i trying to lose him
i didnt notice him for over 6 blocks i guess opps i rarely slow down for corners
i told him i was just on my way to work the same route i usally take just because of the street lights
he said ya i know where you work
and told me i need a head light and tail light
and to keep it under 20 mph
hour and a half later he came in and bought a few dozen donuts
we all laughed when he said damm your bikes are just to damm fast
same cop that clocked my son at 37 in a 25 mph school zone
its a downhill run just before a pretty good hill but i was still going about 25 up the hill
well at least i looked like i was pedeling
the local cops have looked up the ebike laws
and have kinda informed me that mine might be too fast
damm i sure dont want to switch back to 36v after the fun of running at 48v
but maybe i should get some lights

 

[mdd0127]

Either ride it respectfully and legally when in public or go back to a 36v bike that FORCES you to ride respectfully.

I can't wait until e-bike registration is complicated and expensive due to people such as yourself showing the authorities that their intervention is obviously needed.

Even when riding a pedal only bike, you're expected to follow the rules of the road. Stop signs and speed limits are a good example of rules of the road.

Please don't be a bad example.


Thanks.

 

[stanz]

C'mon man, you're gonna make it hard for the rest of us.

If you need to ride fast build an electric motorcycle. Buy an old Honda 50 or something similar and convert it. They're not much bigger than a bicycle to start with. Once you get the ICE crap off they are very light AND built to handle higher speeds than an eBike. They have decent brakes and lights.

 

[el_walto]

If you can't hear a cop car behind you for 6 blocks while riding you have a problem. You need to be more aware of your surroundings.

 

[gogo]

Geez guys, its a small town in Iowa. Nobody, including cars, trucks, and bicyclists, stops at stop signs if there isn't anybody else at the intersection.

justadad1957, check out my thread: Subject: Semantics vs the spirit of Ebike law

The new definition of bicycle found in Iowa Code section 321.1(40)c states:
"Bicycle" means either of the following: (1) A device having two wheels and having at least one
saddle or seat for the use of a rider, which is propelled by human power. (2) A device having two
or three wheels with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (one
horsepower), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a
motor while ridden, is less than 20 miles per hour.

My conclusion is that as long as you pedal at speeds over 20 MPH you get to use your 750 motor watts to help you go as fast as the physics allow. At least its that way until we get law that is like Georgia's:

http://law.onecle.com/georgia/40/40-1-1.html

(15.5) 'Electric assisted bicycle' means a device with two or three wheels which has a saddle and fully operative pedals for human propulsion and also has an electric motor. For such a device to be considered an electric assisted bicycle, it shall meet the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, as set forth in 49 C.F.R. Section 571, et seq., and shall operate in such a manner that the electric motor disengages or ceases to function when the brakes are applied. The electric motor in an electric assisted bicycle shall:

(A) Have a power output of not more than 1,000 watts;

(B) Be incapable of propelling the device at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour on level ground; and

(C) Be incapable of further increasing the speed of the device when human power alone is used to propel the device at or more than 20 miles per hour.

Also, in Iowa you can ride your ebike on paths that have signage that states: "No Motorized Vehicles".

1. electric bicycles are a subset of the category of bicycles
2. bikes are not vehicles per Iowa law
3. motorized bicycles are defined as mopeds and have nothing to do with (legal) electric bicycles
4. cities must speciify "electric bicycles are not allowed" to disallow them
5. the motorized vehicle prohibition is meant for dirt bikes and the such

Let me know if you want to form a critical ride, I'll be there flying my freak flag high.

 

[neptronix]

You only get away with this because you feed the cops their donuts.. i agree that it's making ebikes look bad..

I know a lot of people here have non-legal setups too, but you need to ride respectfully, get lights, respect the law, and at least hang around 20 ish when you're in a cop zone. geez.

 

[stanz]

Geez guys, its a small town in Iowa. Nobody, including cars, trucks, and bicyclists, stops at stop signs if there isn't anybody else at the intersection.

Wow, so the law doesn't apply in a small town in Iowa?

Edit: Here in Massachusetts if you're driving a car, riding a bike, or even a horse, you must obey traffic laws. If you speed or run a stop sign ... you get a ticket. If you're not driving a car or riding a motorcycle you don't get points on your license but you do get to pay a fine. Yes, you can get pulled over for riding a mower on the road while under the influence, it's been done.

 

[gogo]

Geez guys, its a small town in Iowa. Nobody, including cars, trucks, and bicyclists, stops at stop signs if there isn't anybody else at the intersection.

Wow, so the law doesn't apply in a small town in Iowa?

Just saying, when I stop at stop signs I make myself conspicuous because its not the norm. He's following the norm.

I could video the intersection visable from my front door to illustrate if you'd like.

 

[stanz]

In my town the posted speed limits are mostly under 25mph, the unposted limit is 35mph. I got pulled over for doing 37 in a car once so I know.

That said, I have been doing around 20mph now that I'm getting back into shape and thanks to my eBike. My peak mph on my bike before conversion was 22.2mph. I know this because I found my old speedo and it still shows the old peak. It won't register my current speed because the sensor is busted, it only shows old data, 8-year old data at that. Back before my back went out and I had surgery.

My point is, even if he is "following the norm", he's still being noticed by the cops for breaking the law. Heck, even his son was caught speeding!

 

[gogo]

You think there aren't Lycra roadies that go over the speed limit and fail to stop at stop signs? Those cops have boners for eBikes and need to be schooled that they are allowed to go over 20 MPH if pedaled.

 

[stanz]

You think there aren't Lycra roadies that go over the speed limit and fail to stop at stop signs? Those cops have boners for eBikes and need to be schooled that they are allowed to go over 20 MPH if pedaled.

It was 4:15AM, the bike had no lights and it was going 25mph up a "pretty good hill", he had run 2 stop signs and was speeding. I don't see any issue with the cops pulling him over. At 4:15AM how could they know it was an ebike and even if they did he still broke the law.

It's just plain stupid to ride in the dark with no lights. I see it a lot, but it doesn't make it right. I assume it was dark at 4:15AM, even in Iowa.

 

[neptronix]

It's dark here in Portland, OR. until about 5am or so, and i am about 250 or so miles north than the north tip of iowa.

 

[gogo]

It's just plain stupid to ride in the dark with no lights. I see it a lot, but it doesn't make it right. I assume it was dark at 4:15AM, even in Iowa.

Agreed that he deserved to be noticed for no light. BTW justadad1957, on the back you only need a red reflector to be legal but illuminated flashing red ones are better.

Still, if the cops think that 20 MPH is the maximum allowed for ebikes while pedaled, they have a special awareness about ebikes and seem to think they need to harrass them.

Heck, the moped law used to be 25MPH in Iowa, but the cops in my town never gave tickets to the Honda nopeds that did 30 straight off the dealer floor. I took that as permission to make my moped go 45 MPH and I never got a ticket either. So why the need to point out the false 20 MPH interpretation of ebike law when bicyclists routinely exceed that? They have boners for ebikes.

 

[stanz]

It's dark here in Portland, OR. until about 5am or so, and i am about 250 or so miles north than the north tip of iowa.

So, unless Iowa cops get night vision with boners they couldn't tell he was riding an eBike! :lol:

That could be a new selling point for Viagra, night vision.

 

[gogo]

It's dark here in Portland, OR. until about 5am or so, and i am about 250 or so miles north than the north tip of iowa.

So, unless Iowa cops get night vision with boners they couldn't tell he was riding an eBike! :lol:

That could be a new selling point for Viagra, night vision.

The city is less than 4 sq. mi. and he might be the only donut vendor. They know him and his bike.

 

[stanz]

They have boners for ebikes.

My bad, I misread your post.

Bike rides by two cops in the dark ...
McGarrett: "Oh man, I just got wood, book him Danno!"

 

[justadad1957]

you guys post some funny stuff
this is a small town in iowa
we all kinda know each other
i dont think ill hit the 88 mph back to the future speed
like some ppl here
they let me play alittle bit

 

[stanz]

Cop1: "Sarge, I see that guy on the ebike again!"
Sarge: "How can you, it's 4:15AM."
Cop1: "Those weren't donuts I ate, they were spudnuts, the eyes from the potatoes give me night vision!"

This is the most fun I've had on a topic.

 

[StudEbiker]

Cop1: "Sarge, I see that guy on the ebike again!"
Sarge: "How can you, it's 4:15AM."
Cop1: "Those weren't donuts I ate, they were spudnuts, the eyes from the potatoes give me night vision!"

This is the most fun I've had on a topic.

This confuses me because one, isn't Iowa famous for corn and not potatoes, and two, isn't it carrots that's supposed to give you good vision?

 

[liveforphysics]

Build what you want. Ride how you want. Smile as you take your lumps and bumps if/when they come.

 

[hydro-one]

Amen Luke , Amen.

 

[GrayKard]

The city is less than 4 sq. mi. and he might be the only donut vendor. They know him and his bike.

So I would guess going the speed limit and stopping at signs it would take about 10 minutes to cross town. How much time does he save by speeding and getting pulled over?

That being said I do exceed the ebike speed limit here but I'm very careful not to exceed the posted street limit and I stop at lights and signs unless there are no visible cops or traffic or pedestrians. Just be more aware of your surroundings please.

Investing in a light set will probably make the cops stop bugging you.

Gary

 

[justadad1957]

i actually thought this thread would lead to some suggestions for cheap lighting options
and i ride the same route just because of the street lights
most days i never see anyone moving at all when i am heading to work
and btw its been almost two months since i put any gas in my car
and i love ebiking around town

 

[amberwolf]

i actually thought this thread would lead to some suggestions for cheap lighting options

Better to ask specific questions if you have them, in a thread with a title that will draw people to answer that specific question.

Really cheap lighting option: multi-LED flashlights from dollar stores, etc. (if you have any where you live). Most are very small and not that bright, and run on 3 AAA batteries; most will also work on rechargeable (NiMH) AAAs, but will be dimmer (because the voltage is significantly lower). Sometimes you can find multipacks of these flashlights for really cheap; Harbor Freight has some aluminum-cased ones as a pair, one red case one blue case, both white 8LED lights for as little as $2 a pack, when on sale (and often $4/pack when not on that good a sale).

To attach them, use two small hoseclamps on each flashlight. One goes around the flashlight, and before it's tightened down, run the second thru that so you can clamp it across whatever horizontal or vertical tubing you have on the bike, to aim them forward and backward.

For headlights, just clamp one on each side of the fork just above the dropouts, aimed just in front of the wheel, so you can more easily see close-up. Then clamp another set of however many you need and/or can fit, onto the handlebars and/or stem.

You can also ziptie one to your helmet, if you wear one.


For taillights, get some red taillight-repair tape or dark red clear party wrap, (or lighting gels if you have access to these), cut pieces small enough to fit inside the lens of the light, and either glue or tape this over the lens, or open the flashlight and insert it between the clear lens and the LEDs. Wastes a lot of light, but works. Then clamp onto any rear rack you have, or the seatstays. Down low, you can clamp them with just a single hoseclamp around both chainstay and flashlight.

Both of the above have been done on my bikes, and on my Kennel Trailer; if you look thru the first part of my DayGlo Avenger and The Velcro Eclipse threads, and the early parts of the CrazyBike2 thread, as well as the Kennel Trailer thread, you'll see where I did this and how I clamped them on. One of the last posts in my blog also shows this, on the Sierra bike.

Other cheap lighting options include cheap CFL bulbs, run off your bike battery pack, if it's at least 48V. See this thread for info:
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14193&start=0

Also, old PC scanner lights, especially the slide/negative adapters that come with some. Often found for a buck or two at thrift stores, most run on 12V. Very bright, as far as letting others see you. Not so great for seeing the road with, as the light is well-scattered.

 

[justadad1957]

cops ebikes donuts
lets just all get along