I don’t want to be an e-bike troll. I really don’t. I love riding my Specialized Vado and off-roading on my Pivot Shuttle. I often encourage newbies to try e-biking and guide people towards the best bike for them. Still, I end up posting negative stories because the industry willingly turns a blind eye to areas that need attention believing the problem will go away. The bicycle industry’s reluctance to address speed and throttled-controlled e-bikes is the latest black eye for the sport.
FRUSTRATED DISTRICT ATTORNEY LAUNCHES E-BIKE BUY BACK
In a humiliating dig on the bicycle industry, the Orange Country District Attorney announced a county-funded e-bike buyback program in an attempt to reduce injuries and deaths to children. The program is modeled on gun buy-back programs. The bicycle industry should be ashamed because they saw it coming.
In a New York Times Magazine article, author David Darlington says, “According to PeopleForBikes, the rationale in 2015 for creating a class for bikes with throttles — which can eliminate even the modest exercise benefits of pedal assistance — was that many e-bikes already had them, and the trade organization didn’t want to exclude those products and companies.” I commend David for correctly identifying PeopleForBikes as a trade organization, not a consumer advocacy organization.*
Proving this point, Matt Moore, PeopleForBike Policy Counsel said, “Class 1 is very similar to the definition of an electric bike in Europe. The other two types [Class 2 and Class 3] are generally not allowed there — they’re treated as mopeds.” What Matt failed to point out is that PeopleForBikes increased the Class 1 top speed by 30% over Europe’s definition and companies selling Class 2 and Class 3 bikes certainly didn’t want them classified as mopeds. That would have killed sales. And reduced child injury and death.
THE SOLUTION SO WE DON’T SEE MORE E-BIKE BUY BACKS
Jimmy Mac On Two Wheels is self funded. I don’t need the approval of e-bike companies to come up with my solution. My solution is simple and, I believe, could grow e-bike sales rather than encourage more e-bike buy-back programs. Ready?
1. All e-bikes will provide pedal assistance only when the rider is pedaling and will cease to provide power when the rider stops pedaling or the bike exceeds 15 miles per hour.
2. Vehicles that provide throttle assistance or exceed 15 miles per hour of assistance are mopeds.
The industry got greedy and sold a lot of dangerous products. It is time for them to correct the situation. If not, I’m sure government legislations will step in to do it for them. E-Bike buy backs are just the first step.
* David Darlington’s article, “The Shocking Crash That Led One County to Reckon With The Dangers of E-Bikes” was published on November 30, 2025 in The New York Times Magazine
