Letters for Oct. 12: E-bikes are not a threat but a chance for Virginia Beach – The Virginian

E-bikes

Re “Virginia Beach gears up to consider e-bike rules” (A1, Oct. 7): Much of the discussion about e-bikes has felt one-sided, and I urge Virginia Beach leaders to pursue a more balanced approach that supports safe micromobility rather than restricting it.

Before moving here, I commuted my two daughters to school for two years in Washington, D.C., by e-bike on a shared-use path (pedestrians, e-bike, bike) with clear rules: “pass on the left,” “share the road,” pedal-assist only, and a 20 mph limit. It worked well because expectations were posted and enforced.

In Virginia Beach, I continued this routine on the Boardwalk bike path, never exceeding 10 mph, and I was routinely passed by conventional cyclists riding much faster. That experience underscores that speed is not inherentl