California, yeah. Sun, surf and… a license to ride an electric bike? Well yes. The land of the American dream may soon become the first state to require a license to ride an e-bike. I would like to see your face right now.
A response to new trends
The idea behind theAssembly Bill 530 (this is the name of the provision) was not born out of nowhere. In recent years, an increasing number of young Californians have chosen e-bikes as their primary mode of transportation. A small tsunami that has brought many daring two-wheeler pioneers onto the road, who often frolic around without any real knowledge of the traffic rules. And let's face it, not everyone is as expert as you, right?
Let's put it like this: just ten years ago, e-bikes were a “pastime” chosen by older and/or experienced people. Today they have become a mass phenomenon. Not just for pure enjoyment, but also as an economical and sustainable alternative to the car. The scale of the phenomenon, apparently, made legislation necessary.
Some details of the law on the license for electric bikes
Assembly Bill 530, currently under consideration in committee, requires an online written test and State of California-issued identification for those who do not have a driver's license. There's more: cyclists under 12 years old will not be able to ride an electric bicycle.
The project also includes a training program for e-bikes, in collaboration with various organizations, including the Traffic Police (remember the California Highway Patrol made famous by the show CHIPS?).
The target? Educate cyclists who have never attended a road safety education course.
The main proponent, Tasha Boerner, emphasized the importance of safety: “As a mother and legislator, I believe we must take action to prevent injuries to our youth and educate parents about the potential and responsibilities of e-bike. And AB 530 is another step in that direction.”
What do you think?
A similar type of driving license already exists in Israel. Children who are not yet old enough to ride, but use e-bikes to go to school or meet friends, must take a short course that teaches the rules of the road. And, apparently, it works.
In a small, empirical "do-it-yourself" survey, the people I asked for their opinion on writing this article were divided. The "right-thinking" people say that a license serves to raise awareness of driving. The "ill-thinking" people say that regulating this boom with a license also means monetizing. What do you think about it?
License for e-bikes, there is a logic
If you want to share the road with cars, trucks and pedestrians, it is essential to know the rules of the game. And safety comes first.
This provision (which will arrive sooner or later in our parts too) makes us reflect on how and how much mobility is changing and on how we will adapt to all the new trends.
Will we tell our grandchildren about when we could ride e-bikes without a license? Will it take a skating licence? Utopia or dystopia? The future is always played on this dualism.
