[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23145-23146]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  ELECTRIC ASSISTED LOW-SPEED BICYCLES

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I am very pleased that H.R. 727 will 
soon be on its way to the President for signature.
  This bill, which passed the other body by a 401 to 1 margin on March 
6, 2002, will help promote the use of electric-assisted low-speed 
bicycles and will help seniors participate in cycling related 
activities. For many of our seniors, long-distance bicycle rides or 
participation in bicycle clubs in areas

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with extensive hills, can present an unfair challenge.
  Simply put, this bill will allow seniors to more fully participate in 
these events while, at the same time, providing solid exercise for 
them. I believe that in states, such as my home state of Vermont, our 
senior citizens may derive benefits from using these low-speed pedal-
assisted electric bicycles for help getting up our steep terrain.
  Not only will these bikes improve mobility options for seniors, they 
will also help to reduce congestion on our roads and air pollution when 
used for commuting purposes. Since these bikes produce no noise or 
exhaust because they are powered by small batteries rather than 
gasoline powered engines, they provide an environmentally friendly 
transportation option to our citizens and should be treated as bicycles 
and not as motor vehicles.
  H.R. 727 states that these low-speed pedal-assisted electric bikes, 
as defined in very detailed Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, 
rules--found at 16 CFR 1512--shall be considered bikes and not motor 
vehicles.
  These detailed existing safety standards for bicycles should be 
applied in every state, as in current law, and as would be required 
under the bill for these low-speed pedal-assisted electric bikes. The 
existing safety rules are based on extensive experience and tests done 
on material strength, stem and fork torque resistance, pedal design and 
the like and should apply throughout the nation. The existing rules, 
referenced in H.R. 727, set the requirements for such things as: 
handlebar stem insertions; pedal construction; chain guards; handlebar 
stem tests; stem-to-fork clamp tests; bicycle design; handlebar 
strength; front hub retention; attachment hardware; hand levers for 
brakes; reflectors; pedal reflectors; seat size; maximum seat height; 
and the like.
  To assure the safety of these bicycles, the bill provides for federal 
preemption of State law or requirements--as provided in section 1(d) of 
the bill--regarding those detailed CPSC safety rules. The CPSC would 
have the authority to issue additional federal rules regarding the 
construction and physical properties of these low-speed bicycles to 
ensure safety.
  Obviously, local regulation of where these low-power bicycles can be 
ridden, such as not on sidewalks if that is the state or local rule, or 
not on high-speed thruways, or whether helmets are required, would 
still be a local matter. Local or state governments would continue to 
regulate the use of these and other bikes, who could ride the bikes, 
and where they could be ridden, but they could not alter the safety 
rules for the construction of the bikes, or the metals or materials to 
be used for that construction, which would be in the hands of the CPSC.
  H.R. 727 also specifies a 20 mph limit on speed, on a flat surface, 
for these electric assisted bikes. The bikes covered by this bill look 
similar to ``regular'' low-weight bicycles and will have similar speeds 
but require less human leg power and stamina.
  It is important to note that this bill does not relate to other 
devices such as the Segway human transporter which does not meet any of 
the detailed requirements for a bicycle set forth in the CPSC rules.
  I am aware of companies researching such electric bicycle product 
advancements, such as Wavecrest right here in Northern Virginia, and am 
excited about the prospects for the future.
  I appreciate the strong efforts in the other body of Mr. Cliff 
Stearns, Mr. Billy Tauzin, Mr. Howard Berman, Mr. Earl Blumenauer, Mrs. 
Lois Capps, Mr. Dennis Moore, Mr. Michael Oxley, Mr. Charles Pickering, 
Mr. James Oberstar and many others. In the Senate, I appreciate efforts 
of Chairman Hollings, ranking member Senator McCain and Senator Burns, 
all of the Commerce Committee, in getting this bill to the Senate floor 
where it passed without opposition.
  As I work on the massive reauthorization of our surface 
transportation program next year, I intend to work to fund additional 
bicycle paths and enhance existing paths as use of these paths 
increases over time.

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