'The ticket was for almost $600’: Electric unicyclists demand change to B.C. road rules
A new mode of transportation is gaining popularity on the streets of Vancouver, but people who have adopted it are facing hefty fines.
If roads are for transportation, what gives?
The legislation is really slow to catch up to these things, as it says in the article. It sounds like other alternative transports have been greenlit in recent years, and those also took time. I empathize with both sides. On the one hand, people have found a lower cost,highly efficient way to get around without a car - that's a very good thing! On the other hand, people aren't used to them being on the roads, they technically aren't supposed to be yet, and they aren't insurable just yet, there's no agreed upon operating procedures for them to be on public roads, and it's a matter of time before someone hits one and they argue they had no way of knowing to even look for that type of vehicle and they're currently not wrong. Nobody wants that but it will happen.
Hopefully they can catch up to the times and get them okayed, but until then the tickets unfortunately make sense.
Legislation is slow to catch up? Delivery robots are approved. I'm calling BS.
Delivery robots didn't get approved overnight, they were being introduced and control tested as far back as 2015 in cities near me. Delivery robots also stand to make a profit for someone, so there was incentive to get them on measures and in front of legislation. Unless the unicycle manufacturers are petitioning to get them approved (unlikely since they make no money past the point of sale), it's unlikely anyone has actually pushed them gotten them added to a measure and started the legislative review process.
Regardless though, I'm citing the article, which most people - you included id wager - didn't actually read (which is totally fair, I don't usually either but there weren't comments yet!). So call bullshit on them!
Maybe it boils down to deciding if they should be regulated like motorcycles or like bicycles? All the laws and requirements are already in place for each, but no-one has decided where they fit yet; instead they are categorizing them as toys.
In the UK we only allow pedal assist ebikes up to 15mph. If they meet the requirements, then it counts as a bicycle and follows other rules. If not, like a higher speed or it provides power without pedaling, its a motorbike or vehicle so has to meet those requirements (licence plate, annual mot check, mandatory insurance etc) which by definition they would not be able to so are illegal. Its pretty easy to spot them. You see a few, a lot food delivery people have them but they are running the risk of police tickets or impounding every time they go out.
Would be interesting to see what other countries are doing too
Same problem here in the UK. There are some legal rental options in city centres (lime etc) but its illegal to use your own on any public land. Ebikes took a long time to legalize. Tbe framework is there but there is no interest to apply it to others.
Naturally, people still ride them but generally don't behave well, you know, because only those willing to break the law are driving them.
I have an ebike and a cheap escooter. I always rode it safely and legally (if it was an ebike), i.e. dont go on pavements, wear a helmet and its limited to 15mph. A few weeks ago a motorbike cop pulled me over and as I was being safe he didnt fine but but told me i had to just push it home like a scooter. Now I cant ride it again. He mentioned I could, get done for lots of different things if he wanted to.
I love my ebike but sometimes i want to use an escooter, like if its late or I know theres no decent cycle parking near there so don't want to risk my much more expensive ebike. So that means I take the car instead...
I used to take it on the train to work as bikes arent allowed but the escooter folds down and fits under the seats. They are now banned on buses and trains as some of the batteries exploded. I think that's because they are illegal so we can only get cheap Chinese ones with no safety regulations.
Anything that reduces traffic, polution and increases mobility should be embraced fully and we can figure out ways around these issues but the government doesnt really care.
What if you painted your scooter green like a Lime scooter? Then you'd blend in with the legal scooters. :)
That is a good idea! Unfortunately only for parts of the city they operate in. Its a bit of a mess as London is actually 33 boroughs, plus places like ours which is not a London borough but I'm literally a road away from one. All have different licencing requirements and neither my council or the borough nearby allow them so it would look like its stolen!
