What Is An ‘E-Bike’ Anyway — And Where Does it Belong on the Road?

Imagine you’re out walking on a shared-use path in your city, and these vehicles blast through your periphery at 30 miles per hour. They have two wheels, quiet electric motors, and the people atop them are pedaling, though clearly, the battery is doing almost all of the work. But the are going a little too fast for your comfort. Are these really e-bikes — and do they really belong in the bike lane?Now imagine you’re on that same path, but then another vehicle speeds by at 50 miles per hour, narrowly avoiding a parent with a stroller. Pedals, check; battery, check. But otherwise, that sucker sure seems like a motorcycle.