File Under Duh: Electric Bicycles Shouldn’t Ride on Sidewalk

What kind of physics allows a parked ebike to run someone over? The argument that parked ebikes on sidewalks are dangerous is absurd. I think everyone agrees that any bicycle, power assisted, pedal or scooter style do not belong riding on the sidewalks, a fact that many regular cyclists seem to ignore. Any accidents and indeed fatalities in Toronto seem to involve regular bicycles. People seem to ignore that these ebikes have existed in British Columbia for 6 years without major incident.

Ebikes are legislated to run at pedal bike speeds, and are generally underpowered. My ebike is 350 watts and my toaster is 1000 watts. It is no wider at the handlebars than a regular unassisted bicycle. The reason they weight more is that presently sealed lead acid batteries are used for economical reasons, and they require a heavier frame to carry the extra 40 lbs of batteries. As lithium batteries become cheaper, the ebikes can be made lighter too. So which weighs more, a 150 lb woman on a 150 lb ebike or a 250 lb man on a 50 lb unassisted bicycle?