Difficult to answer? Maybe the wrong question.

From Walk Bike Nashville Feb 22, 2022 newsletter --

After a long process, a "study," and many, many meetings, the Greenways and Open Space Commission decided today to do another study before recommending any policy changes regarding e-bikes on greenways.

Maybe the reason why the Commission can't get an answer is because they are asking the WRONG question. The objective for the Commission is keep the greenways safe. That has to do totally about the person riding the bike and not about the bicycle he or she is driving. DOT does not regulate by the car a person drives on the road. They regulate by how the driver travels on the road. It has a century of that experience. Why has everyone lost that competence on the greenways?

Conversation about eBikes

All – Please join us online for A Conversation about Electric Bikes on Wednesday, March 9, at 1 p.m. With all the questions surrounding possible regulation of e-bikes, Nashville BCycle and Walk Bike Nashville are convening a panel of national, regional, and local transportation experts and advocates to discuss and bridge any understanding gaps. 

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The panel includes Dr. Chris Cherry (University of Tennessee), Ash Lovell, Ph.D (PeopleforBikes), Lindsey Ganson (Walk Bike Nashville), and will be moderated by Michael Briggs, AICP (Vanderbilt University). Learn more about the panelists and register for the event here. Best, Elese Daniel (she/her) Nashville BCycle | General Manager

Metro Greenway Commission Meeting February 9th

Metro wants an eBike study amid greenway concerns

https://fox17.com/news/local/metro-recommends-another-study-amid-concerns-over-ebikes-and-greenway-infrastructure

Nashville Greenways are a hot commodity for runners, walkers, and bikers alike. 

My quote (Tom Evans) to the ebike group has been precisely what Lindsey Ganson with Walk Bike Nashville told Fox17,  “E-bikes just allow more people to bike! An e-bike rider just gets an extra boost to keep up -- not to speed down a greenway. Really, when it comes down to it, it’s not the type of bike, it’s the rider on the bike.”

A Gazelle

The Gazelle ebike was brought to my attention. So I thought I would compare it with our favorite Vado 5.0 SL. From the beginning this Dutch import  Gazelle Ultimate T10+ HMB appears to be similar to the Vado. We checked out the review from Bicycle.com and a video from E-bike Review (below).

As always I first interest is configuration, price, weight, and class.

Making Personal Stories for eBikes

FROM CAREY:

Thanks to Ben and Tom for the stories. I’m convinced we need to make this as personal as possible since talking to people about class 1 and class 2 makes their eyes glaze over.

The best thing you can do right now is  make contact with the Greenways Commission members.  Email them and tell your story because they need to hear us.  Some of them probably can’t  be convinced but we should try.  We’re quietly trying to make a few personal contacts via people who know the members.

How I Use My eBike

How I Use My eBike

I have been riding a bicycle for eighteen years starting at the young age of sixty-three. During that period, my favorite times were on multi-week bike tours. I have traveled across National Parks, across multiple states, and from the US to Montreal. Until recently, I averaged over five-thousand miles every year and worn out three road bikes. However, my needs have changed.

Nashville Greenway Trails

Our Recommendations

Nashville Greenways Commission Report

Ebike Study Outline (Sep 2021)

Parks Greenway Access Report (Jan 2022)

Carey's Report on the Nashville Greenways Commission on Ebikes

The following highlights to Carey's report are provided by T. Evans. As a owner of an ebike he thinks both the Nashville and TDOT regulations are misguided and lack knowledge of this new technology. He will offer position statement in the next several months. He supports Carey's attempt to educate regulators.

Greetings volunteers. I hope you all enjoy riding in the cold.

I’m going to try and summarize the current situation, but this thing has become so complicated you need a scorecard to keep up. My apologies for the wordiness and any lack of clarity.

We are planning a strategy meeting via zoom on February 9 at 6 pm. We will have a better idea of what we need to do after the Greenways Commission meets that day. Katherine McDonell and I have agreed to co-chair this group. We will need to give it a catchy name like E-Bike Riders for Sanity.

750 Watts for Powered Cruiser

 

The Aurora Limited Edition has a unique step-through frame design, the Enviolo Automatiq gearing system, semi integrated frame battery, a powerful 750 Watt mid-motor, Throttle, Torque Sensor, and the Gates Carbon Drive Belt system. 20 Miles per Hour (Can be Increased to 25 mph Maximum in Off-road Mode). The bike with battery is 71 lbs. 

https://evelo.com/products/aurora-limited 

SPEC's

USBR for KY Boone Trace

https://www.boonetrace1775.com/About-Us/Bike-Signs/bike-signs.html

 

With the official designation of two new U.S. Bicycle Routes, Kentucky now has a total of 1,000 miles of connected bicycle-friendly roads. USBR 23 connects the Cave Region of Kentucky from USBR 76 to the Tennessee border. The 109-mile route travels through the small towns and historic sites of Southwestern Kentucky and connects to Mammoth Cave National Park.