Only one party has been providing Sustainability and Equity; the other party keeps bullying people with physical limitations.

Credit: AI Creation / CoPilot

One of the primary responsibilities of a modern government is to protect the most vulnerable members of society. These are typically individuals with limitations. Physical and mental limitations could be stemming from age, illness, disability or fitness, especially in more challenging environments.

In terms of transportation, the most vulnerable are those who walk or ride a bike. Special attention also needs to be given to children, seniors, and individuals with various abilities (ADA).

Enter the E-Bike. In the world of ADA.gov, it falls into the category of “other power-driven mobility devices” (OPDMD). That category also features electric wheelchairs, knee scooters, motorized scooters, golf carts, and even a Segway, basically anything that can help a person with limitations to level the playing field.

“When an OPDMD is being used by a person with a mobility disability, different rules apply under the ADA than when it is being used by a person without a disability.” [ADA.gov]

E-bikes are the same as regular bicycles, but are much better in getting people moving.

1955: Governor Goodwin Knight (R) creates the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) – the first regional air pollution control agency in the United States to address air pollution problems that crossed local political boundaries.

1967: Governor Ronald Reagan (R) signed bike lanes into California Vehicle Code §21207 into law to make streets safer for the vulnerable.

1970: President Nixon (R) created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce national standards for air quality, water quality, and hazardous waste under major laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

1970: Governor Ronald Reagan (R) signs the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) into law.

1973: President Nixon (R) introduced bike lane funding on the Federal level through the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973.

Ever since then, Federal bike lanes are explicitly designed to support and protect vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and people using mobility devices.

1975: President Gerald Ford (R) signs CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy).

1982: Idaho (R) gives the world the “Idaho Stop” law – since proven to make bicycling safer for everybody. Twelve other states and the District of Columbia have since adopted the law. Not CA though.

1989: Young Donald Trump features the Tour De Trump – a bike race through 5 states.

1990: President George H. W. Bush (R) signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law.

1992: President George H. W. Bush (R) the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) designed to reduce dependence on imported energy, improve energy efficiency, and promote clean and renewable energy sources.

2002: President George W. Bush (R) gave us Low Speed Electric Bicycles as part of the Consumer Product Safety Act.

2005: President George W. Bush (R) signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 establishing a Renewable Fuels Standard.

2006: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed AB32 – the Global Warming Solutions Act.

2008: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) gave us the Complete Streets law (AB1358) – a law that requires cities and counties to update their general transportation plans by adding a balanced, multimodal transportation network that safely and conveniently serves all users – including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

2019/08: The Secretary of the Interior (R) signs ORDER NO. 3376 an “Order intended to increase recreational opportunities for all Americans, especially those with physical limitations“.

There are numerous “R’s” in this impressive collection of U.S. laws and policies that aim for a greener, healthier future for America. There are numerous important laws governing fuel standards, fuel economy standards, renewable energy, clean water, clean air, sustainable living, and active transportation. And yet they have been written and signed by Republican Governors and Presidents.

“The first Tour de Trump, which left Albany, New York, on May 5, 1989, covered 837 miles over 10 stages. It traversed five Eastern states and featured 114 riders from 15 countries, including Greg LeMond.” [Politico]

Zero Dark Thirsty.

Seriously, I could not find anything remotely similar. Nothing that goes right to the cause of the problem.

All the big laws around sustainability, environmentalism, clean water, clean air, bike lanes, and even e-bikes have been signed by GOP leaders many years ago already. Despite a super majority in California, Democrats never caught up, never even came close signing fundamental laws like these.

All Democrats have to show for is a lot of bluster and virtue signaling, a few minor adjustments, but little to no tangible long-term results. Democrats prefer to throw money at the symptom rather than understanding the cause; then Mr. Grift takes possession of that money. Case in point the SamTrans BSIP project, which didn’t build bus shelters. Or how about the Dumbarton Railroad Corridor? We are watching councils in San Mateo and Burlingame messing up this major sustainability topic as we speak.

If Elephants really are apostles of the fossil fuel industry, they still seem to acknowledge a side-by-side situation. Their record on doing the right thing and writing the right laws doesn’t sound too bad.
There is a pro-residents, pro-children, pro-senior, pro-ADA formula behind all these laws and regulations signed by Republicans in leadership:

BAAQMD+EPA+CEQA+CAFE+bike lanes+ADA = E-BIKE

There still seems to be an understanding that clean air, clean water, free self-transportation, and self-reliance should be standard.

These Elephants still understood that regular bicycles are great for Americans, but they might not work as well for people with physical limitations. Children, older residents, or individuals with disabilities may need some extra assistance. Therefore, some 23 years ago, they came around and acknowledged e-bikes are especially great for “those with physical limitations”. Six years ago, they decided that e-bikes and regular bikes needed to be treated the same by the Federal Government.

Apparently, it’s pulling very hard for Livable Neighborhoods, health, sustainability, and safety as well. At least that is what the PR teams keep telling us.

However, their unconventional versions of Livable Neighborhoods, Complete Streets, or Vision Zero have little in common with the original proposals. Their versions continue to employ old tactics to push as many bicycles off the roads as possible.

Don’t forget, the Donkeys have the same formula at hand as the Elephants do. But still, their math looks very different these days:

BAAQMD+EPA+CEQA+CAFE+bike lanes+ADA = E-BIKE BAN

That’s right, our esteemed Donkeys in Burlingame, Millbrae, Half Moon Bay, Palo Alto, Mill Valley, Marin County, or POST, examined the same formula that these GOP leaders did and came to the opposite conclusion. They are issuing bicycle bans wherever they can.

Looks like this donkey is “sponsored” by the vehicle industry (source: gettyimages)

Let’s read the GOP version again

“A relatively recent addition to the design of some bicycles is a small electric motor which can provide an electric power assist to the operation of the bicycle. Reducing the physical demand to operate a bicycle has expanded access to opportunities, particularly to those with limitations stemming from age, illness, disability or fitness, especially in more challenging environments, such as high altitudes or hilly terrain.” [GOP Secretary of Interior]

The Elephants don’t even have a special name for this kind of leadership, but really, this is the kind of Transportation Equity The Donkeys have been promising since the 1970s. However, whenever they could deliver, they would balk.

In the County of Rich Donkeys, bullying people with physical limitations on their e-Bikes is considered OK.

That kind of fun isn’t allowed on 160 miles of trails managed by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (POST).

Thanks to the Elephants of Olden Times, e-bikes are already regulated at the federal level, even California has decent laws. They are to be recognized and regulated as regular bicycles would.

Anything with more than 1 hp (750W) and capable of exceeding 20/28 mph is considered an e-moped and must be made street legal with a license, registration, and insurance. If it’s not, San Mateo County police could impound it. No further municipal codes necessary.

There is absolutely no good reason to ban people with physical limitations from using e-bikes now, but that is precisely what they are doing. Donkeys could just be using the available tools given to them by these Ghosts of Good Governing Past.

But since 2019, when the last GOP administration ruled regular bikes and e-bikes are to be treated the same way, they have been fighting this simple rule left and … actually mostly on the left.

… to be continued.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in all blog posts are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Redwood City Pulse or its staff.

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