New bill dealing with electric bikes in Arizon legislature

[AZguy]

AZ has a new bill in the legislature, SB1273: https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/69054

It creates three classes a la California:

17 24. "ELECTRIC BICYCLE" MEANS A BICYCLE OR TRICYCLE THAT IS EQUIPPED
18 WITH FULLY OPERABLE PEDALS AND AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OF LESS THAN SEVEN
19 HUNDRED FIFTY WATTS AND THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF ONE OF THE
20 FOLLOWING CLASSES:
21 (a) "CLASS 1 ELECTRIC BICYCLE" MEANS A BICYCLE THAT IS EQUIPPED
22 WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE ONLY WHEN THE RIDER IS
23 PEDALING AND THAT CEASES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN THE BICYCLE REACHES
24 THE SPEED OF TWENTY MILES PER HOUR.
25 (b) "CLASS 2 ELECTRIC BICYCLE" MEANS A BICYCLE THAT IS EQUIPPED
26 WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT MAY BE USED EXCLUSIVELY TO PROPEL THE BICYCLE
27 AND THAT IS NOT CAPABLE OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WHEN THE BICYCLE REACHES
28 THE SPEED OF TWENTY MILES PER HOUR.
29 (c) "CLASS 3 ELECTRIC BICYCLE" MEANS A BICYCLE THAT IS EQUIPPED
30 WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE ONLY WHEN THE RIDER IS
31 PEDALING AND THAT CEASES TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN THE BICYCLE REACHES
32 THE SPEED OF TWENTY-EIGHT MILES PER HOUR.

Without changing the usage from what it is today:

27 28-819. Electric bicycles
28 A. AN OPERATOR OF AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE IS GRANTED ALL THE RIGHTS AND
29 PRIVILEGES AND IS SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE DUTIES OF A PERSON RIDING A
30 BICYCLE.
.....

[JPLabs]

Good, I guess? I think forcing permanent classes on each bike type, by riding area, is silly. But, since that's the way it's being done: one more state joined, yay, good for e-bikes?

I'd prefer someone to just pass a law that say ebikes are bikes, but you have to follow the rules, every place you ride them. If no throttle is allowed in a park you visit, then take it off. If that trail has a lower speed limit, go slower.

So, really, it makes me sad to see one more state follow what I feel is a poor model. I don't want to ride the class 3 bike I'll have for commuting, on the roads to the park, towing the class 1 e-bike I'm supposed to also have, because it's the only kind I'm allowed to ride there. That's what the law requires, for practical purposes, to an ebike rider who commutes by road but also uses parks. Fat chance.

Me, I'll just toss the class 1 bike in my SUV and drive it there, if it comes to that. I'll probably have to park on the grass, since the lot would be full of SUVs with e-bike racks. To me, these laws fail at promoting green personal transportation and C02 reductions with e-bike legislation, in a smart, practical way.

[AZguy]

The way I read it is they aren't changing things in the state - e-bikes are bikes "granted all the rights and privileges and is subject to all of the duties of a person riding a bicycle...


What I see is providing a tool for local jurisdictions to limit based on class... AZ is pretty opposite the west coast in that restrictions of any sort are generally very unpopular among our politicians... Places like Tempe, Tucson and possibly Flag are less so than the rest of the state but still unlikely to see much.

My present bikes can pass as class 2 easily and I suppose taping off the throttle cables should make them class 1...

I expect Tempe may restrict some multi-use to class 1 which isn't the end of the world and likely only in high traffic areas like the university and town lake..... but you never know....

[AZguy]

Catching this while it is still in process I'm writing letters suggesting that folks that have a disabled parking permit with the state, those on SSI disability and folks over <fill-in-the-blank> years of age the Class 2 should be considered class 1.

That seems hard to argue with and easy to amend...

Of course I'm starting the letters with how thoughtful they've been on this issue (hold your nose! =] )

[JPLabs]

AZguy, I like your perspective on it. Hopefully the practical application, most places, will be tolerance. Not, 'by the book'.

EDIT!!! See below for more:

Mis-information removed. Paint Creek trail did NOT really ban ebike use. :)

[BK Xray]

Which trail was that? We will be vacationing in Michigan this year and primarily riding rail-trails.

[JPLabs]

Paint creek trail. it wasn't posted on their site yet, last I looked. Runs from Rochester to Lake Orion.

Edit: site still says open. the vote was a couple weeks ago, maybe didn't take effect, yet.

[BK Xray]

Thanks for checking!

[JPLabs]

Big correction to the above: I was evidently misinformed by an 'insider' who told me I can't be there anymore....a friend just sent me this.

Electric bikes voted OK on Paint Creek Trail.

http://www.candgnews.com/news/trail-commission-approves-electric-bicycle-use-107952

So, that helps! I feel a little better about the local reaction, now. Sincere apologies for the incorrect info, I'll update my original and IM BK Xray to let him know, too.

I noted, too, one bike shop I visited which didn't agree with ebikes or even want to talk about them, and scorned me for my interest when I was looking for one a few years ago, now sells them and supports their use. Also great. I'll have to go back and see what they have.

[max_volt]

Your link doesn't seem to work

http://www.candgnews.com/news/trail-commission-approves-electric-bicycle-use-107952

[max_volt]

[paxtana]

The Arizona ebike bill has now been signed into law, making it the ninth US state with common sense ebike legislation :D

https://azbikelaw.org/ebike-bill-rides-again/

[Hard Tail]

Reading this thread with interest and envy. I could live with the class 1 classification but unfortunately Australia has Adopted the EU interpritation.
Id love to return to the states one day and ride the tracks through that amazing landscape.

[max_volt]

Instead of EU is should be PU, as in it stinks. Over-regulated IMO