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 more experienced people. Today they have become a mass phenomenon. Not just for pure enjoyment, but also as an affordable and sustainable alternative to the car. The extent of the phenomenon, it seems, 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 California state-issued identification for those without a driver's license. What's more, cyclists under the age of 12 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 course.
The main proponent, Tasha Boerner, stressed the importance of safety: "As a mother and legislator, I believe we must act to prevent injuries to our young people and educate parents about the potential and responsibilities of e-bike. And the AB 530 is a further step in this direction."
What do you think?
A similar type of license already exists in Israel. Kids who aren't old enough to drive yet, but use e-bikes to go to school or meet friends, have to take a short course that teaches them the rules of the road. And, apparently, it works.
In a small, empirical, "do-it-yourself" survey, the people I asked for their opinion in writing this article were divided. The "right-thinking" say that a license serves to raise awareness of driving. The "misconceived" 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.
