D-BIKES!!!

D-BIKES!!! B.A. Psychology Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States The reports keep pouring in on the many accidents caused do to E-Bikes on our roadway. Before, I continue. For the anal readers. The title is correct. “D-Bikes.” In my eyes. These contraptions are Death wishes on wheels. Many of our municipal elect are quick to allow these death wishes on our road as they fall for all the hype and the photo opportunity, making it look like they are actually doing something. The reality. Our sons and daughter pay with death and injury. I agree in part that these E-bikes may be useful at tourist destinations or on remote trails as to give access quickly to visitors. Unfortunately, in a city like Oshawa. There is barely room for traditional bicycles. We now are going to ad to the formula a bicycle powered by a battery that can go 40km/hr. Not only that. We are going to put this contraption in the hands of our youth. Youth that have barely learned to ride a normal bike. Or worst as the police reposts have indicated. Some of these riders are seniors. So on the one hand we take away licenses at 85 for most. Then we turn around and out of desperation encourage these same individuals to take up E-biking. Now I am no expert and far from a genius. But to me. It is a matter of time before we loose more lives. Oshawa/Durham has no place for E-bikes as they become “D-bikes”. Riders need no licenses. Barely a helmet in some cases. The region is not bicycle friendly. This has been proven time and time again through the many accidents reported. Look at what is taking place in Toronto. Toronto moved quick to create bike lanes. Only to come to the realization that on main roads there is no room or place for bikes. We may look at all foreign models to try to justify that bikes are the way to go only to wake up to the reality that in our type of traffic. E-bikes = D-bikes. So what is the solution? Simple. Have these e-bike riders get a license. Same with the e-scooters. This would put a quick stop...as the e-scooter operators would have limited clients using their service. E-bikers would be pulled over and removed from the road as most would not be able to afford licensing and plates. (Remember that e-bike users are normally those less fortunate that have no means of transportation). Look at the police reports. Let’s prevent injury and death. We are not a tourist destination. We are a City, a Region. Let’s put our people safety first.