Amazon blocks sales of e-bikes that exceed legal speed limits

[midian182]

In a nutshell: Amazon is putting the brakes on sales of some of the fastest electric bikes in California. The move comes after a local investigation found that models exceeding the state's legal speed limits were still being offered to residents.

The retail giant told KCRA 3 News that it will no longer sell e-bikes in California that go faster than state law allows. The decision follows a consumer alert from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who reminded buyers and sellers that the state divides e-bikes into three classes: Class 1 pedal-assist models and Class 2 throttle-assisted models are limited to 20 mph, while Class 3 pedal-assist bikes can reach 28 mph.

Anything beyond those limits is no longer treated as an e-bike under California law and may instead be classified as a moped or motorcycle, introducing extra requirements such as registration, licensing, insurance, and age restrictions.

Many of the machines advertised online as e-bikes are closer to lightweight electric motorcycles. KCRA said an Amazon search turned up numerous listings boasting speeds above 40 mph, well beyond the legal limit for an electric bicycle in California.

After the station contacted Amazon with examples, the company said it had removed those listings and was investigating similar products.

Amazon also said third-party sellers must comply with state laws, regulations, and its own policies. That sounds obvious, but the marketplace has long made it easy for questionable hardware to slip through until regulators, reporters, or angry customers point it out.

The crackdown comes amid growing concern over high-powered electric two-wheelers being ridden by teens and marketed as ordinary e-bikes. Police and prosecutors in California have tied several recent serious crashes to illegal e-motorcycles, including fatal incidents involving underage riders.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said more than 100 deaths in the US have resulted from e-bike and e-motorcycle crashes, while injuries have risen 430% in Southern California over the last four years.

One recent Orange County case has intensified scrutiny. In April, an 81-year-old man died after being struck by a teenager allegedly riding an illegal e-motorcycle, and the teen's mother has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter after officials said she had been warned the vehicle was illegal for her son to operate.

Legal e-bike models remain an increasingly popular alternative to cars for commuting, errands, and short city trips. The issue here is the increasingly blurred line between a bicycle with electric assistance and a motorcycle-style vehicle being sold with bicycle-like branding.

CalBike is co-sponsoring SB 1167, which would change the types of vehicles that can be advertised, sold, or labeled as e-bikes. Amazon's move suggests major retailers may not wait for the bill before removing the most obvious offenders from their listings.

Permalink to story:

Amazon blocks sales of e-bikes that exceed legal speed limits

 

[RudyBob]

Good move, something usually unheard of in CA

 

[Endymio]

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said more than 100 deaths in the US have resulted from e-bike and e-motorcycle crashes...

Most of those innvolve e-Bikes striking or being struck by motor vehicles. And if you're going to count those, you should know that more than 1,100 people a year die in normal bicycle crashes.

And the top speeds of 20 and 28 mph seem a bit low, given that even a non-motorized bike can exceed 40mph on flat ground -- and 60mph+ downhill.

 

[The Talking Tech]

No e-bike should be able to go over 25mph. Anything above that is practically a motorcycle and should require a driver's license.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

No e-bike should be able to go over 25mph. Anything above that is practically a motorcycle and should require a driver's license.

1. LOL I can go over 25 on a pedal only bicycle.
2. Many states have laughable riders licensing. As in you can legally ride motorcycles for up to a year before getting one.
3. Drivers licenses don’t make people act safer in cars or on bikes.

But the issue of e bikes (and e scooters) getting a total pass regardless of speed is valid. 40 mph is a good cutoff as that is where you are moving beyond residential road speeds. Not that low top speed keeps people from taking their new toy on the Interstate but stupid people cannot be prevented from being stupid.

 

[The Talking Tech]

Let's breakdown your point of views.

1. I can go over 25 on a pedal only bicycle.
- You can only pedal for so long going above 25mph, so that's a safety reassurance.

2. Many states have laughable riders licensing.
- Im sure most citizens would agree that e-bikes should be considered a motor vehicle since it has a motor and States should be hold accountable for their own decisions.

3. Drivers licenses don’t make people act safer in cars or on bikes.
- That's the same argument about someone with a license to have a gun you can never prevent the dumb-*** to do the wrong thing with a licensed gun...but hey being licensed to drive feels a lot safer to have people driving around.

once again anything above a consistent 25mph should be considered a motor vehicle, because it simply has a motor.

 

[VitalyT]

I don't get it why they bother adding pedals to those e-bikes, most people don't use them at all. Must be a licensing thing, I.e. if t is called a bicycle, no license needed.

But in most cases, they are just e-motorbikes with pedals.

 

[Endymio]

1. I can go over 25 on a pedal only bicycle.
- You can only pedal for so long going above 25mph, so that's a safety reassurance.

A reasonably healthy person can maintain 25mph on good roads for several hours .. a well-trained cyclist can d0 40 mph for that length of time. That's on level ground ... downhill speeds of 70mph+ are easily possible.

And given that an accident can occur in a split-second, I don't know why you conclude that it's a "safety reassurance" if you can't maintain a speed for days on end.

 

[seeprime]

I don't get it why they bother adding pedals to those e-bikes, most people don't use them at all. Must be a licensing thing, I.e. if t is called a bicycle, no license needed.

But in most cases, they are just e-motorbikes with pedals.

I presume it's for when the battery dies on you. Time to peddle.

 

[Win7user]

"Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said more than 100 deaths in the US have resulted from e-bike and e-motorcycle crashes, while injuries have risen 430% in Southern California over the last four years." <-------- This has NOTHING to do with the bike itself. It's the MORONS riding them. Just like 90% of all vehicles in this nation, we've got MORONS steering them. All, you have to do it get on any freeway in this country, and watch how these fools drive their vehicles!

 

[erickmendes]

Well going vertical downhill you can exceed 40mph lol
Falling is flying too, you know?

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

So E-Bikes are basically hybrids somewhat. Part of the problem are after market upgrade mods that increases their speed well beyond their classification because enforcement is impossible until an accident happens. In any case a seller does have the right to stop selling any item.