I’m no expert when it comes to the nuances of e-bikes but I thought I had learned in the pages of bikeportland that by statute ebikes sold in the US (Oregon) were required to (in some way) couple the throttle to the pedaling action; in other words that unlike a motorcycle/an electric vehicle you couldn’t sit back and let the throttle do (all) the work for you. But it seems I misunderstood, because of late I’ve come upon people whose body language leaves no doubt about the fact that while they are sitting on a bike the forward motion is entirely unrelated to their metabolism. When you get closer of course all becomes clear: an e-machine.
When you’ve unconsciously always coupled the sight of someone on a bike with the physical effort we all know so well it can be disorienting at first to realize the two are not necessarily coupled anymore.
Did I misunderstand? Or are these bikes I’m seeing operated in this manner hacked somehow?