hagerty1 said:
Here is the rub as I see it. Excerpt from Federal law
However, such requirements do not apply to e-bikes assembled from parts or kits by an individual. The use of home-built or kit-assembled e-bikes are instead governed by state and local laws, as federal law does not preempt state and local jurisdictions from enacting their own laws governing the operation of such vehicles on public streets and roadways.
Comments?
That's correct, because that "law" is only a CPSC regulation, whcih only covers companies that manufacture products for sale.
I live in in Ohio and have been told by State Trooper/ Metro park Rangers/ Local police that Ohio has
jurisdiction on any non commercially manufactured electric bike of any kind.................PERIOD
That's correct, too--a state can make laws that govern everything within it's borders, regarding vehicles/transportation be it cars, bikes, trucks, skateboards, etc. They can define them any way they like, or fail to define them and leave them in either a gray area or a forbidden area, depending on how the law works in that state.
They can also leave it up to local jurisdictions (counties, parishes, etc., towns, cities., municipalities, etc). And depending on the state laws, those local laws may even be more restrictive than the state. Some allow it, some don't.
All Ohio metro parks are fine with riding on the roadway but absolutely prohibit any electric bike of any kind on trails reserved for bikes. Ohio law considers these electric bikes as a "form" of moped with age restrictions and licencing required.
Comment?
If they do, then they do, and if you want to obey the law, then you have to meet it's requirements and obey it's restrictions.
If you don't care abotu the law, you could build a stealthy version, with minimal assist that's hidden, and make sure you simply don't ride it in a way that ever makes it obvious that you aren't doing all the work.
Or move to a state like AZ that has much more reasonable restrictions...ride it under 20MPH and obey traffic laws, and follow any of the other things a bicycle requires (reflectors, lights), and you're just a bicycle, and can go anywhere a bicycle can (and are restricted from going anywhere a bicycle can't).