Hello and welcome back to the Senior E-biker Podcast. I’m your host, Scott, and today, I'm fired up about something that's been bugging me—and probably a lot of you too. It's been eating at me for a while now. I’ve noticed a lot of confusion, especially in the media and in local city halls, where they’re calling everything with two wheels and a battery an "e-bike."
I have to admit it: I'm sick of it. It's confusing, it’s frustrating, and it’s just plain wrong. This isn't just a matter of semantics; it has real consequences for all of us who ride and love our legitimate e-bikes. So, today, I want to break down why a pedal-less motor scooter is not an e-bike and why it’s so important that we stop calling it one.
Before I get deep into the topic I do want to take a moment to say thank you to all of you who have contacted me and told me you appreciate the show. I hope everyone listening feels the content is worthwhile. If you do, please subscribe (it's free) using any podcast player - host like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, etc.
Also note I have some big news. I've written a new book. It's called "Buying an E-bike For Seniors." It's available in paperback at LULU.com - there's a link in the show notes. It's 180 pages and with tax and shipping will cost you less than $20. If you like my show and want to support my efforts, picking up a copy of the book would be great. I will have more on the book on my next episode but I did want to announce that it's available. In addition to being available as a paperback book, it will also be available as an e-book later this month. Stay tuned.
Now on to the core of my argument It is simple: A vehicle's legal classification is a matter of specific, verifiable criteria. A pedal-less motor scooter, despite its electric motor, simply doesn't meet the legal definition of an e-bike in the vast majority of U.S. states. So let's make a commitment right here and now: Let's stop calling them e-bikes because they are not e-bikes. If we as e-bikers don't take a stand on this, who will? What's worse, if we let people who are not legitimate stakeholders define us, then we're sure to face more regulation and less fun.
I want to talk about the defining features of a real e-bike: Pedals and Human Power!
Let’s get into the most crucial distinction first: pedals. Think about your own e-bike. What’s right there at the bottom? Pedals. And they’re not just for show; they’re a fundamental part of the vehicle.
Federal and most state laws define an e-bike as a "bicycle with an electric motor." This is key. It means our e-bikes must be capable of being propelled by human power alone. If you turn off the motor, you can still pedal home. It might not be easy. But it can be done.
Now, think about those pedal-less scooters. We used to call them mopeds when I was a kid. They’re legally defined by their motor as the primary or sole means of propulsion. The absence of functional pedals, regardless of how much they might look like an e-bike, automatically disqualifies them from that classification. It's that simple. It’s a moped or a motor scooter. It's not an e-bike and it's my opinion that the e-bike community should spread the word on that point.
Another defining characteristic that separates e-bikes from mopeds is speed.
We know our e-bikes have limits. Under the widely adopted three-class system, our e-bike motors can't exceed 750 watts, and the motor's assistance must stop at either 20 miles per hour for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, or 28 miles per hour for Class 3.
But what about those pedal-less scooters? They often operate on a throttle-only system, and they can reach speeds well beyond e-bike limits. Their higher speeds and power outputs place them in a completely different legal category, which often means they’re considered a motorized cycle or a moped. These categories come with their own set of laws, which brings me to my next point. They require registration, licensing and insurance in most US jurisdictions where the opposite is true of legitimate e-bikes.
There are real consequences - both legal and community related - if we let people get away with calling mopeds an e-bike.
If you do find someone calling these vehicles e-bikes it is more than just a simple mistake; it has tangible negative consequences for all of us.
For starters, these motor scooters are subject to different laws. They often require the rider to have a driver's license, helmet, and as I just noted - registration, and insurance. The problem is, many riders of these pedal-less vehicles ignore these requirements, which leads to unsafe operation and, frankly, gives all of us a bad name. This is absolutely no excuse for lazy media and bad governance to regulate legitimate e-bikes or e-bikers.
This is not unlike something I've seen in the motorcycle community where people who ride Honda Goldwings and belong to touring groups are compared with Hells Angels since both ride motorcycles. It's simply lazy and wrong.
This confusion also impacts our access to the places we love to ride. E-bikes are often permitted on bicycle paths and multi-use trails, but when high-speed, pedal-less scooters are recklessly operated in these areas, they can endanger pedestrians and other cyclists. This leads to a backlash where local governments and parks departments mistakenly ban all “e-bikes” from these trails, penalizing legitimate riders and destroying the trust that we’ve all worked so hard to build. That’s bad governance, and it’s simply nonsense. It's unfair to us, and it’s something we need to stand up against.
Finally, this misidentification creates widespread safety issues and confusion. It brings unwarranted scrutiny and anxiety to all of us who own and ride e-bikes legally. We follow the rules, and we don't want to be unfairly grouped with riders on what are essentially unregistered, uncertified motorcycles.
What Can We Do About It?
I know it can feel like a losing battle. We're not exactly living in a time where facts always matter, but every journey has a first step. The first step is for those of us who ride real e-bikes to make our voices heard.
If you see a news story where reporters conflate e-bikes and mopeds, call them out. Loudly, quickly, and often. Send them an email, call their news desk, or comment on their social media pages.
If you see government agencies or officials making the same mistake, schedule a time to meet with them. Take a few minutes to sit down and explain the legal differences. Show them the specific laws. These differences are significant, and they matter. The difference between a pedal-less motor scooter and an e-bike is a fundamental legal distinction that affects everything from on-road regulations to community perception and rider safety.
By accurately calling these vehicles what they are—mopeds or motor scooters—we can ensure public safety and protect the integrity of the e-bike community we've all come to love. And as a senior citizen rider, I am very concerned about this. If the anti-e-bike hysteria is allowed to flourish, my one safe form of exercise could be in jeopardy. I'm hoping I've made the case here and that you will stand with me in protecting our access to these marvelous machines that allow us to ride further than we ever thought possible.
That wrap's up today's episode of The Senior E-Biker Podcast. You can find show notes and a transcript of this episode on the show's website at https://senior-ebiker.transistor.fm. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email at seniorebikerpodcast@gmail.com.
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