If you commute or ride an e-bike or electric two-wheeler for fun, you've probably seen the headlines. Washington State has a new law. Police are talking about enforcement. Parents are being warned. And high-power electric bikes are suddenly in the spotlight.
At first glance, it sounds like Washington just declared war on electric bikes. But that's not exactly what's happening. The interesting part of this story isn't that the state wants teenagers off high-powered electric bikes. Plenty of cities have already been struggling with kids ripping through parks, sidewalks, bike paths, and neighborhood streets on machines capable of motorcycle speeds. That part isn't exactly new.
