It is clear that American’s have been slow to adopt e-bikes. Perhaps due to confusion over the wide variety of e-bikes on the market and what they are and what they are not. See Regulations of E-Bikes in North America sponsored by the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC)
E-bike user and future users need to petition state legislatures and local governments now for permission to operate pedal-assisted bicycles legally on roadways and paths. We need to make it our job to help legislatures and local governments understand the difference between pedal-assisted and throttle-assisted bicycles. And to explain why pedal-assisted bicycle should be allowed on trails and in cycling events.
These changes will help to accommodate aging Americans who might otherwise not be able to continue to cycle and achieve the physical benefits similar to conventional bicycles despite the electric power assist.
Ken Whittaker