Re:Show HN: Long Range E-Bike
by DonHopkins on Friday November 12, 2021 @03:13PM
(#29204010)
On the day that daylight saving time changes so it's dark an hour early, the Dutch police sneak out all around the city, hide behind bushes, and jump out to surprise unsuspecting bike riders who don't have their lights on yet, and write them traffic tickets.
Re:Show HN: Long Range E-Bike
by 908B64B197 on Friday November 12, 2021 @04:47PM
(#29204915)
This has to be a joke right?
Re:Show HN: Long Range E-Bike
by DonHopkins on Saturday November 13, 2021 @07:34AM
(#29209329)
No, it actually happened to me, but it may have been a mailbox the cop was hiding behind.
Re:Show HN: Long Range E-Bike
by throwaway984393 on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:17PM
(#29207316)
Dutch people don't joke; they insult you and then laugh
Re:Show HN: Long Range E-Bike
by 908B64B197 on Friday November 12, 2021 @04:35PM
(#29204811)
> it's a moped, you need a driving license, insurance, a license plate, and all the legal equipment of a moped (e.g. lights, rear view mirror), and commonly type approval (which is going to be very, very expensive).
The amount of bureaucracy in Europe for completely mundane things is completely unbelievable.
Getting a Driver's license in France, for example, is an uphill battle against a very hostile administration. I can completely see why some tried to dodge some of these absurd regulations by innovating in the e-bike space.
Having a tiny bike barely able to break the 25mph limit be considered a moped just because it has a throttle as well as pedal assist is completely ridiculous.
> Having a tiny bike barely able to break the 25mph limit be considered a moped just because it has a throttle as well as pedal assist is completely ridiculous.
Yeah, what is the world coming to when a moped is considered a moped? Insanity. Cats and dogs living together.
Most european cops if they catch you: some countries may treat s-pedelecs as bikes, but in most it's a moped, you need a driving license, insurance, a license plate, and all the legal equipment of a moped (e.g. lights, rear view mirror), and commonly type approval (which is going to be very, very expensive). Also can't use cycle paths.
Over the last few years many (but probably not all) member countries have passed laws to treat devices not exceeding 25km/h to bikes, but that's only for hard-limited devices, not "I swear I don't go faster than 25", the latter? mopeds.