[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 93 (Friday, June 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S7205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH of Oregon:
  S. 1156. A bill to amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to provide 
that low-speed electric bicycles are consumer products subject to such 
Act; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the 
Electric Bike Safety Act of 2001. This bill will encourage and provide 
more opportunities for Americans to enjoy the leisure and healthful 
benefits of riding bicycles. This legislation would amend the Consumer 
Product Safety Act CPSA, to provide that low-speed electric bicycles 
are consumer products subject to such Act. As the CPSA is now written, 
low-speed electric bicycles are not considered consumer products, but 
rather a motorized vehicle subject to all regulations set by the 
National Transportation Safety Administration, NTSA, which regulates 
automobiles and motorcycles.
  As a result of low-speed electric bicycles being treated as 
motorcycles, they are required to meet burdensome and unnecessary 
standards, making low-speed electric bicycles much more costly than 
they need to be. Subjecting electric bicycles to motor vehicle 
requirements would mean the addition of a large array of costly and 
unnecessary equipment, brake lights, turn signals, automotive grade 
headlights, and rearview mirrors.
  Making electric bicycles accessible for more Americans will benefit 
the lives of thousands of Americans. Electric bicycles provide disabled 
riders the freedom of mobility without the cost or stigma of an 
electric wheelchair. Electric bicycles provide older riders with 
increased lifestyle flexibility due to increased mobility that electric 
bicycles allow them. Electric bicycles provide law enforcement officers 
a practical way to patrol neighborhoods and towns in a manner 
consistent with the highly successful emphasis on ``Community 
Policing''. Electric bicycles provide short and medium distance 
commuters an environmentally friendly and healthy way to get to work. 
In short, this bill is pro-Americans with disabilities, pro-elderly, 
pro-safety, and pro-environment. Electric bicycles will prove 
beneficial to many more Americans if we in Congress do our part to make 
electric bicycles affordable.
  In my home State of Oregon, there are thousands of people who ride 
bicycles each day, whether as a means of transportation, exercise, or 
recreation. The City of Corvallis, OR, has 63 miles of bike lanes and 
paths and as a result has a very high number of people who commute to 
work on their bicycles. Area companies such as Hewlett-Packard and 
CH2M-Hill even offer changing areas and showers as a way to encourage 
their employees to ride bicycles to work. The Corvallis Police 
Department is also able to utilize electric bikes as a community 
friendly way to patrol the city.
  I believe that placing electric bicycles under the regulation of the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission will be only ensure the safety of 
electric bicycles, but will promote their use by making electric 
bicycles an affordable alternative form of transportation to millions 
of Americans.
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