From: cshenk@virginia-beach.com   
      
   rbowman wrote:   
      
   > On Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:14:52 -0400, Ed P wrote:   
   >   
   > > E Bikes are becoming very popular.  Cheap easy transportation, they   
   > > are good for a lot of people.  With risk, though, much from   
   > > stupidity.   
   > >   
   > >   
   https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2025/10/24/st--petersburg-police-e-   
   > bike   
   >   
   > The local subreddit had a thread yesterday about a guy who rides   
   > around on a onewheel and seems to have a death wish. So far there   
   > haven't been any city ordinances but as e-bikes and e-scooters   
   > proliferate it's a matter of time. I think the Forest Service has   
   > banned them and they are now added to the prohibited signs at   
   > trailheads. The icon is a bicycle with an electric cord with a red   
   > slash.   
   >   
   >   
   > > Last night I was out late and ahead I saw a blinking red light.   
   > > From 50 yards away, it was more like a firefly than signal light.   
   > > From 5 yards, not much better. At a traffic light I pulled next to   
   > > him.  Dimly lit street, poor flashing light, no headlight, black   
   > > bike and the rider wearing black too.   
   > >   
   > > I hope he made it home.   
   >   
   > When I go home at night most of the trip is on rural roads with no   
   > street lights. I've found even a very visible red blinker attracts my   
   > attention in all the darkness and I tend to aim at it. Target   
   > fixation.   
   >   
   > It's worse in the city with bicycles being the preferred mode of   
   > transportation for the homeless. They aren't too big on safety   
   > equipment or common sense. The homeless pedestrians are no better but   
   > they don't move as fast.   
      
   I have no problem with e-bikes properly used but in Virginia Beach   
   they've been banned from the Boardwalk area and the bike trails.  All   
   bikes are banned from the boardwalk anyway except at really odd hours   
   like 2-5am or somesuch.   
      
   The problem is the e-bikes can hit over 30mph and kids aren't using   
   them safely around regular foot traffic or of slower normal bikes.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)