B.C. unicyclists hit with pricey tickets

Electric unicycles are becoming a popular form of transportation in B.C. But as Joel Ballard reports, with a lack of regulation, riders have found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

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[Ben-djwg]

Welcome to Vancouver, feel free to do drugs, sell drugs, launder money... but don't you dare ride an electric unicycle.

[robertskelton]

I guess it's a lot safer to go after a geek on a unicycle than a real criminal.

[brutusmaximus]

An unregulated vehicle means that the state chooses not to regulate it. It's like requiring registration for horses. He should have fought those tickets and then sued the cop in private arbitration.

[MaximilianGros]

Here in Germany, penalties start at a full monthly wage gross and go as far as imprisonment. Driving an environmentally friendly small electric vehicle is punished more severely than the hundred-thousandfold fraud of the former Audi boss. Politicians from all parties have already announced that they do not want to change anything, the competition for the domestic car industry would probably be too big. E-scooter drivers faced similar penalties until the EU regulated e-scooters and forced Germany to legalize them. This leads to such absurd situations as in Austria, where driving a rental scooter that is lying around everywhere actually violates national law.

[sander]

God forbid we decrease traffic congestion and pollution 😵‍💫

[daletidy.]

Thank you CBC Vancouver for keeping the comments section discourse open!

[AliceSinclair]

It's the same thing for electronic longboards as well. You apparently need insurance for you to ride them, but you literally can't get insurance for them because they aren't classified as vehicles.

[tmac]

Who does riding a Unicycle hurt?

What logical reason is there to give a $600 ticket other than attempting to steal money?

[madogblue]

Absolutely Ridiculous. To be fair municipalities need to catch up with all electric vehicles. Cities want to to reduce emissions and should encourage electric bikes, etc. Clearly change is needed

[cotcotpouetpouet]

In France monowheels have been recognized by law as an authorized vehicle since July 2019, they have the right to circulate on the streets, cycle paths, and roads whose speed limit does not exceed 70km/h for cars. They have designed the same regulations for all means of electric micro-mobility (EDPM).
We have the obligation to insure them against damage to other people and property, this costs between 30 and 100€ per year depending on the insurance companies.

[Sieva.]

Mobility devices like these should be legalized and treated the same as bikes and e-scooters.

[teejay]

We pay the police to write us tickets. That's so genius.

[illiniwood]

In my city in the U.S. we can ride anything gas powered or electric in the streets without insurance or a license as long as it doesn't exceed 25mph at full throttle. However, they are not permitted to be on the expressway, freeway or interstate.

[fermitupoupon]

Over here in The Netherlands at least the laws are clear. These things are considered mopeds under the law and that means they have to meet all of the requirements that a moped has to meet. If they do, the importer or manufacturer can apply for a type rating for it to be allowed on the road.

The thing is, these things don't and can't meet the requirements as set in the law. This is mostly related to the brakes, so there is a legitimate safety concern at the root of it. Most of the other requirements can be bypassed on technicalities if a manufacturer really wanted to.

But as it stands, over here it's a moped, so it must have a plate and be insured and you're required to have an AM-class license to ride it. But because of the brake requirements, it can't get a plate. And because it has no plate, it can't be insured. And thus it isn't allowed off private property.

[juzeus]

the real question is how do we keep safe from police and government?

[scottsum]

Any court update on this? ie. were the ticket/s upheld or dismissed?

[odtube]

Should be enough to have personal liability insurance, not specific "EUC" insurance.

[brutusmaximus]

If you get a ticket riding one of these, you need to fight it in court and file a countersuit. If there is no regulation specific to unicycles then the ticket should be dismissed. If it is not dismissed, you can appeal it. Just don't let the government railroad your freedoms. It is through registrations that the state has jurisdiction. The courts lack subject matter jurisdiction over unicycles because there are no statutes related to their regulation. Think of it this way, do you need to register a horse?

[landocycle]

17, 000km of riding for me so far. Best way to get around.

[patrickbedruz]

Build the infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and cars in separate lanes!!!

Theres countries that parents let their kids take their bike to school cause they know their path will never cross an intersection with cars.