UPDATE: The bicycle committee was evenly split on allowing E2s on the trail, but were supportive of a speed limit. The concern is the throttle, but as I have demonstrated below, you can put in a NO throttling rule on the trail for coasting or riding and it wouldn’t limit the E2 riders at all because they would be just riding with regular E1 assistance. The SFPD and Police Chief Thum has told councilors he is NOT in opposition to the E2 extension and has told councilors that nothing has happened in 5 years that would concern him with the use of the E2 on the trail. The Sioux Falls Parks Department Administration also does oppose the changes, but they do have to go in front of the Parks Board for approval hopefully in August. At the Active Transportation Board Wednesday morning they will be discussing and either recommend or deny the use of E2s. The meeting is at 8:30 AM, July 19, Old Commission Chambers at City Hall.
UPDATE II: I shot this video of the WORST intersection in Sioux Falls to cross as a pedestrian or bicyclist. It’s like a 1/4 mile crosswalk 🙁 This is NOT how you design a complete street. You wonder why people use the rec trail for commuting? Cross this intersection on foot or on a bike and you will figure out why.
Before I rode one 3 years ago, I had a lot of questions of how they worked. I put together some rough videos of how E2s work.
I saw a twenty-something flying down the sidewalk on 49th Street this morning on an E-Bike. It was like a motorcycle on the sidewalk. They were meant for the streets.
Police Chief Thum claims he is 20 officers short in a recent KELO interview. The SFPD doesn’t have the time or manpower to police E-Bikes on the bike trail or sidewalks. So, let the streets regulate them.
I wish we could post gifs. I’d post the one from Jurrasic Park where Wayne Knight is saying “see, nobody cares”.
Nobody cares until a PO pulls you over for riding your $3,000 bike on the trail. Trust me, the 1,300 comments on the SFPD FB page says it all, people are pissed about this.