@jimray The article is really badly written, and focuses on all the wrong things.

I understood it a bit better after reading the comments and learning about "Sur-Ron", a brand of "electric bikes". Those are clearly motorbikes, that are not allowed on bike lanes so better bike infrastructure wouldn't help there I'm afraid.
If those motorbikes are indeed sold to young teens as regular bikes in the US, I can understand some of the concerns in the article. Such motorbikes should require a license, just like mopeds.

But then the article should really make that point! Instead they conflate e-bikes with electric motorbikes, and make no point at all!

1.Yes, we need better bike infrastructure everywhere.
2.Yes, the US may need better laws to clearly categorize and regulate the use of electric motorbikes.

There, you had the chance to write 2 good articles instead of one shitty one!