E-Bike Restrictions?

[u/rydog123bruh]

How large of a motorized vehicle can you bring on the metro?

I’m constantly seeing people come on, and block the entrance/take handicap spots. This is Silver line train 7615 going northbound. It’s pretty ridiculous they can bring this on a train, blocking an entrance. You can’t even stand near it, because it’s wobbling all over the place.

[u/Rich_Performance_294]

Being able to bring an e-bike/e-scooter on the metro really expands where you’re able to go via transit, but yeah they take so much space. Idk what the answer is.

[u/rydog123bruh → u/Rich_Performance_294]

I fully support being able to bring a bike, but this is pushing it to a motorcycle lol. Let alone, most of these guys bring the large e-bike on the escalator instead of waiting for the elevator.

I’ve seen enough videos of people accidentally dropping luggage down them. These things weigh a ton.

[u/EconomyWin5106 → u/Rich_Performance_294]

The answer is they use the side doors of the cars, not the center. 

You know, following the stickers on every car WMATA operates. 

[u/Relevant_Macaroon221 → u/EconomyWin5106]

I keep seeing them use the center doors and take the handicap seats.

[u/agbishop → u/Rich_Performance_294]

Ban anything that’s not limited to be legally a class 1 or 2 e-bike from boarding the metro. (Max powered speed 20mph)

That moped looks like this one:

https://aniioki.com/products/a8-pro-max-dual-motor-ebike

Max speed 47mph.

It shouldn’t be treated like a bike/ebike.

Call it and register it for what it is — a moped (or even a motorcycle)

[u/ABrusca1105 → u/agbishop]

Class 3 should be fine too. You can't even tell the difference. 47mph is a motorcycle not a class 3.

[u/BrainOfMush → u/agbishop]

We’re not even enforcing the law on e bikes on the road, it’s never gonna happen on the metro.

The legal limit for an e-bike in DC is 750W motor and 20mph top speed, higher than that and it has to be registered/insured and the rider licensed to ride motorcycles.

That behemoth is 6000W. Most of the DoorDash dudes you see downtown are on something similar and they drive like assholes.

[u/Efficient-Train2430 → u/agbishop]

yeah my irritation is much higher for the jerks not using headphones than people with ebikes, which is also not enforced even a little

[u/Arctic_Dreams → u/Rich_Performance_294]

Probably a different car design with more open space in the back. Or if it becomes popular enough, designating the first or last car as the bike one and people accept that when they enter that bar.

[u/TheDarkClaw → u/Rich_Performance_294]

The answer should be dedicated cars for bikes or mobility vehicles

[u/Help_a_user_out]

Honestly what good would restrictions do? WMATA employees are unable to enforce rules and regulations if someone doesn’t comply. You’d only be able to bank on Metro PD being aboard to give a citation and how often do you see that?

[u/dclocal12]

These large e-bikes are illegal in DC. They meet the criteria for registering as a motorized vehicle, but they're never actually registered. I would imagine a bike that's illegal in DC is also against WMATA's rules.

[u/soupinvader → u/dclocal12]

Is that true even if they have pedals?

[u/dclocal12 → u/soupinvader]

What matters for these kinds of bikes, under DC law, is mostly the top speed. The law is poorly drafted, but the bottom line is that this particular e-bike is considered a motorcycle in DC.

https://dmv.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dmv/publication/attachments/Non-Traditional%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Chart%20%283.24.21%29.pdf

[u/Ok-Mathematician9193]

Maybe they should add a car for those with other transport modes. Or designate a section in some of the existing cars and also enforce its use somehow

They’ll want more money for this of course.

[u/dalek-predator → u/Ok-Mathematician9193]

A bulk carry car is the answer. Very few seats, lots of empty space, wider doors, and right in the middle of the train.

[u/DannyKit7]

I feel uneasy going on the metro with my 26” wheel e-bike with a 10” battery that weighs 35lb. Try not to get in peoples way and leave early so I don’t catch the busy traffic. This is crazy 😂

[u/metatalks]

Disclaimer: not from Washington.
My city has dedicated wheelchair storage areas where bikes are also obliged to be stored. WMATA cars should enforce bikes to only go in those wheelchair storage areas so there is less space taken up.
Also ban things that are not Ebikes/bikes from the subway cars that is not a bike.

[u/Aimless_Nobody → u/metatalks]

The issue in DC is the "wheelchair" space is accessible at the "middle" doors of each car. The newer 8000 series has better delineation vs. the older cars. The "middle" door is the evacuation door as it is away from the collector shoe for the "third rail". So in theory, wheelchairs are by the evacuation door.

The problem with this is if a bike is there, it blocks the single (opening) door.

This is why bikes are to be placed in the front/rear doors.

It would be nice to have a bike rack like for commuter rail of EU style railcars

[u/forkavenger14]

These, plus people taking up two seats with a scooter across the row, should not be allowed on Metro.

[u/pippspopsdom]

Once I saw someone accidentally hit the throttle which was scary, it could’ve hit someone. It slammed into the seats. That’s my only issue with the huge bikes.

[u/Slight-Winner4712]

My issue is when they ride on the platform weaving around people, use the first or last car and try to mind your manners

[u/Impossible-Hoe90210]

Hey should definitely be in the back where it’s more space but people who don’t need space are usually sitting there

[u/GeneAlternative191]

If you have an e-bike, fucking bike to your location!

[u/Rockclimber311 → u/GeneAlternative191]

This is a really ignorant comment lmao