and the next thing they are going to tell me, where is my license, registration and insurance for the bike. or if i ride my lawnmower, do i need a license for that too? or where is my registration and insurance for that lawnmower?
Some technical details might help. Does the electric bicycle travel at normal bicycle speeds?
If it can go moped speeds 20-45 mph and you need a license to drive a moped in Oregon then I might agree you also need a license to operate the electrical moped.
What about golf carts? These have electric motors. Do you need a valid license to operate one in Oregon?
i know you want to rent this golf cart out, do you have a valid license and insurance card? (you already paying $20 to rent the cart.) what, no insurance, that is ok, it’s just another $50 to get insurance to drive that on my golf course.
oh, you license is currently suspended! well, i have a solution for you. i have a authorized licensed driver for the golf cart. it will be an additional $50.
so, will all the expenses added for the round of golf, green fees $50, insurance $50 and driver $50. total $150, now do you need anything else like tees or golfballs?
It seems like the spirit of the law is not to restrict one’s mobility, but to restrict the ability to do harm to others. A 40lb electrically assisted bicycle (which by law are speed governed to 22 MPH) ridden by a 180lb rider is far less likely to cause harm to others than a 2000lb vehicle travelling at highway speeds.
If it classifies as a motor vehicle, the license and regulate it as one.
I would think that just driving a golf cart, powered bike, scooter, or other means of powered conveyance isn’t really the issue here. It is whether you are driving it on a public roadway that makes it cross the line or not. The DMV needs to lock down the definition of just what constitutes a “motor vehicle” when it is used on a public roadway and then back it up with the proper statutes.
I live in Oregon. I was looking at getting a scooter/moped a while back and I think if it’s 49cc or under you don’t need the motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license, but you probably still need a drivers license. I would imagine golf carts are probably similar, and agree w/other posters that it has to do with being on public roads, not private property (so you’re okay renting that golf cart if you stay on the golf course). He needs to get a regular bike. And wudchuck, lots of people in Oregon want to make bicyclists have to register their bikes (especially when the cities, counties etc are putting so much money in to bike lanes and such here!)
it’s ashame that they are wanting more money into their pockets because they are trying to do the right thing for safety. that to me is just another way to get more (undeclared taxes) fees. if that is the case, when we give our kids or a neighbor’s kid a bike, who has to pay for it to be registered? what happened to a little bit of happiness and pursuit thereof, especially a child? and what about the child in me who likes to play? i should not need to have a registration for a bicycle. next thing they will request is proof of insurance.
I have a friend who lives in Portland, Oregon and got pulled over and ticketed on his mountain bike for speeding….(apparently for going down a hill too fast on his way to work).
It doesnt make any sense that u cant drive an electric bicycle with a suspended license cuz u can drive a regular bicycle and u cant go any faster or use it differently if its an electric bike. it just makes it easier.
and the next thing they are going to tell me, where is my license, registration and insurance for the bike. or if i ride my lawnmower, do i need a license for that too? or where is my registration and insurance for that lawnmower?
If a child can ride it without a license, the man should be able to as well. Ridiculous!
Some technical details might help. Does the electric bicycle travel at normal bicycle speeds?
If it can go moped speeds 20-45 mph and you need a license to drive a moped in Oregon then I might agree you also need a license to operate the electrical moped.
What about golf carts? These have electric motors. Do you need a valid license to operate one in Oregon?
now that would be funny, sir…
i know you want to rent this golf cart out, do you have a valid license and insurance card? (you already paying $20 to rent the cart.) what, no insurance, that is ok, it’s just another $50 to get insurance to drive that on my golf course.
oh, you license is currently suspended! well, i have a solution for you. i have a authorized licensed driver for the golf cart. it will be an additional $50.
so, will all the expenses added for the round of golf, green fees $50, insurance $50 and driver $50. total $150, now do you need anything else like tees or golfballs?
It seems like the spirit of the law is not to restrict one’s mobility, but to restrict the ability to do harm to others. A 40lb electrically assisted bicycle (which by law are speed governed to 22 MPH) ridden by a 180lb rider is far less likely to cause harm to others than a 2000lb vehicle travelling at highway speeds.
If it classifies as a motor vehicle, the license and regulate it as one.
agreed, because i have seen the old footpowered scooter where they have put a little motor on the end…
I would think that just driving a golf cart, powered bike, scooter, or other means of powered conveyance isn’t really the issue here. It is whether you are driving it on a public roadway that makes it cross the line or not. The DMV needs to lock down the definition of just what constitutes a “motor vehicle” when it is used on a public roadway and then back it up with the proper statutes.
I live in Oregon. I was looking at getting a scooter/moped a while back and I think if it’s 49cc or under you don’t need the motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license, but you probably still need a drivers license. I would imagine golf carts are probably similar, and agree w/other posters that it has to do with being on public roads, not private property (so you’re okay renting that golf cart if you stay on the golf course). He needs to get a regular bike. And wudchuck, lots of people in Oregon want to make bicyclists have to register their bikes (especially when the cities, counties etc are putting so much money in to bike lanes and such here!)
it’s ashame that they are wanting more money into their pockets because they are trying to do the right thing for safety. that to me is just another way to get more (undeclared taxes) fees. if that is the case, when we give our kids or a neighbor’s kid a bike, who has to pay for it to be registered? what happened to a little bit of happiness and pursuit thereof, especially a child? and what about the child in me who likes to play? i should not need to have a registration for a bicycle. next thing they will request is proof of insurance.
I live in Oregon. Only in Oregon would you find a goofball situation like this. We are known for our freaks and hippies trying to skirt the system.
I got a charge out of that article for sure!
In NC, if you’ve a scooter or moped with a 50cc or less engine you don’t need a license. There’s a reason they’re nicknamed liqour-cycles around here.
Get a DWI/DUI, lose your license and you end up on one of these
I have a friend who lives in Portland, Oregon and got pulled over and ticketed on his mountain bike for speeding….(apparently for going down a hill too fast on his way to work).
It doesnt make any sense that u cant drive an electric bicycle with a suspended license cuz u can drive a regular bicycle and u cant go any faster or use it differently if its an electric bike. it just makes it easier.