What should you note about electric bicycles (e-bikes) participating in road traffic?

Electric bicycles (e-bikes) present specific challenges in road traffic that are important for all road users to understand. E-bikes can indeed be deceptively fast, as they can reach speeds of up to 25 km/h without needing pedaling, which is faster than many conventional bicycles. This speed can catch other cyclists and pedestrians off guard.

Additionally, e-bikes often look very similar to traditional bicycles, which can lead to confusion about their capabilities and the precautions other road users should take. It's crucial for everyone sharing the road to be aware of this similarity to ensure safety.

On the other hand, the statement about e-bikes being easily recognized due to their engine noise is misleading. Most e-bikes are designed to operate quietly and do not produce significant noise, making them harder to detect. This emphasizes the importance of awareness and caution when interacting with e-bikes on the road.

Understanding these attributes of e-bikes aligns with German traffic regulations, which emphasize the importance of recognizing different vehicles and their potential behaviors to maintain safety on the roads.