"E-bike" is pedal assist only/mostly with max speed of 30kph/20mph (only while pedalling) and throttle cuts out at low speeds (7kph: basically just there to get some inertial); treated as just another bicycle (perhaps limit age to ≥14 yo). Everything else is an "e-moto" with the same rules as mopeds and motorcycles.
Of course enforcement is key: importing, selling, on the road.
Also worth noting that in some places in the EU a automobile Category B also gives you Category AM allowances:
> In some countries, holders of a B driver licence are also entitled (sometimes with special conditions) to ride motorcycles <= 125 cubic centimetres (7.6 cu in) and power <= 11 kilowatts (15 hp) and ratio power/weight <= 0.1 kilowatts per kilogram (0.061 hp/lb)
Between this and the Headlight situation, it's bad out there. One of those issues where the two-party politics are really toxic and prevent any action.
Realistically, we need a new license class for vehicles >3T. This would mean anything from the biggest F-150 on up. It doesn't have to be any harder to get than a motorcycle cert, but we should put some burden on the driver to show that they know how to handle a big vehicle.
That and a common sense rule on headlights could get pedestrian deaths back where they were a decade ago.
The Shifter cycling channel recently polled viewers and came out with a pretty good classification system:
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z35F2R7FeE&t=17m20s
"E-bike" is pedal assist only/mostly with max speed of 30kph/20mph (only while pedalling) and throttle cuts out at low speeds (7kph: basically just there to get some inertial); treated as just another bicycle (perhaps limit age to ≥14 yo). Everything else is an "e-moto" with the same rules as mopeds and motorcycles.
Of course enforcement is key: importing, selling, on the road.
Also worth noting that in some places in the EU a automobile Category B also gives you Category AM allowances:
> In some countries, holders of a B driver licence are also entitled (sometimes with special conditions) to ride motorcycles <= 125 cubic centimetres (7.6 cu in) and power <= 11 kilowatts (15 hp) and ratio power/weight <= 0.1 kilowatts per kilogram (0.061 hp/lb)
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_driving_licence#Since...
Perhaps be allowed to use your existing car insurance.
Between this and the Headlight situation, it's bad out there. One of those issues where the two-party politics are really toxic and prevent any action.
Realistically, we need a new license class for vehicles >3T. This would mean anything from the biggest F-150 on up. It doesn't have to be any harder to get than a motorcycle cert, but we should put some burden on the driver to show that they know how to handle a big vehicle.
That and a common sense rule on headlights could get pedestrian deaths back where they were a decade ago.
You can tell by a comment's content whether the user drives a normal car or monster suv/truck lol.
The NYT article they link to is worth looking at, and I believe it's free for everyone: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/21/us/trucks-suv...
(this is at the merged thread - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48648727 - and there's an additional gift link in the top text for people hitting the wall)
Dupe: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48623347
Ok, since that submission has the original source, we'll merge the comments thither and re-up it.
It is like an arms race :)
people who went to large SUVs got better views and a greater false sense of security. Soon everyone was driving the same size SUV.
So what happens, people way bigger, the everyone is buying bigger. Rinse and Repeat. Something has to be done to stop this.
[dupe]
Discussion on source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48623347