People feel the need to pass you when you go the speed limit because they are used to driving much faster than the speed limit, not because you're on a bicycle.
I assume the commenter was talking about situations where it wouldn’t be possible for a car to pass another 30mph car (or the overtaking car driver wouldn’t be bold enough to try).
Re:A DIY E-bike Conversion on the Cheap
by Dylan16807 on Monday August 23, 2021 @03:35AM
(#28273173)
Feeling the need to pass because of speed plus the ability to pass because it's a bike, is pretty different from feeling the need to pass because it's a bike. At the speed limit both of those things will happen. At 5 over the former will be much less common.
The difference between the cheap version of a motorcycle and the sport version isn't the engine, it's the brakes and suspension ( and now electronics).
But the main thing is the lack of helmets. One motorcycles, the center of gravity is low. You are more likely to fall and slide than go head over handlebars. At motorcycle speed, you should be wearing a full face helmet. I very rarely see the guys on e-bikes wearing full face helmets.
Then you look at the wheels and tires, higher speeds means more acceleration and faster stops, means more wear- which means much more maintenance. That most people aren't really paying attention to. Maintenance on two wheels is more than just a reliability issue, it's a safety issue.
Finally, people give no respect to bikes on the road. Especially in the US. You could be cruising along at 30 mph at the speed limit and someone will feel the need to pass you because you're on a bicycle.