Sunday, August 14, 2011

More Electric Bike Regulation? No Thanks

Saw this article on the weekend and thought, 'wow some good publicity' for electric bikes.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be a nothing article.

Good old Mr. Harold Scruby, of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, is preparing a 'submission' to the government's Staysafe committee apparently, requesting an inquiry into paths that can be used by both cyclists and pedestrians.

What a waste of everyone's time Harold!

Mr. Scruby also thinks its a great idea to impose more regulation on the electric bike industry through the introduction of compulsory registration.

Instead of encouraging cyclists to use bike paths and reduce road congestion and pollution, you want to regulate even more?

What's the problem with sharing bike paths with pedestrians? The bike riders use the part marked for bike riders and the pedestrians use the part marked for pedestrians!

I just don't get it...

Luckily, the Bicycle NSW chief executive, Omar Khalifa, said he would not support the exclusion of electric bikes or introduction of registration.

''We need to get used to sharing road surfaces and paths, and see them as a network whose design and purpose must be flexible ... Until we can sufficiently cater for everyone's needs, we will all need to live with reasonable compromise,'' he said.

Thank God someone has some common sense.