Well Intentioned but Misinformed.

Today I picked up an article shared on Carey's Tennessee eBike Forum. In his article eBike Hysteria, Peter Flax was commiserating about complaints that he read on NextDoor. (LA area in CA). https://medium.com/@peterflax/e-bike-hysteria-3f392a5fe6be  

People were complaining about teenagers on eBikes. Flax came out strongly in support of the teenagers on eBikes stated that the complainers were either selfish or badly misinformed.  However, in his enthusiasm, he shared a general misconception about eBikes.  He said

Minors are allowed to ride Class 1 or 2 ebikes which have smaller motors [wrong] and can't exceed 20 mph [wrong]. This is what more than 95% of the kids are riding [statistics source?]. You have to be older that 16 to ride a Class 3 eBike. which can go 27-28 mph. Any parent who allows a kid to ride a Class 3 eBike is making a bike mistake.[give them a car instead]

eBike law varies by State. The author is referencing [not quoting] California law. In Tennessee the rider may be 14 and older for a Class 3 eBike.

What is a smaller motor? And smaller than what? Not necessarily a Class 3 eBike.

Class 1 and 2 motors provide assistance up to 20 mph. There are no rules as to how fast they may go. Likewise that is the same for a Class 3 ebike providing assistance up to 28 mph.

The dangerous misconception is Class 1 and 2 bikes travel at 20 mph while a Class 3 travels at 28 mph. They don't. A Class 1 bicyclist can pedal his eBike to 28 mph and faster and a Class 3 bicyclist may mope along at 10 mph and use the motor only to level-out the hills, which most FOGBEE bicyclists do.

Nearly all the FOGBEE ebike owners have Class 3 eBikes and rarely travel over 20 mph. Many may travel over 30 mph on a downhill with NO motor assist. When they coast, i.e. not pedaling, the motor turns off making it no different that a regular bicycle.

Let's make sure laws regulate behavior and not the vehicle.