So... after reading the article, i think that this is an even better idea than i thought before i had read it! Very interesting and good initiative by the city when fast ebikes stop people from using bikes all together!

This plan does something to cyclists’ sense of freedom,” she acknowledged. “On the other hand, their current freedom also affects the freedom of others. Their speeding now limits this

My original comment:

Increasing speed will very rarelly save you from an accident. Slowing down, or braking will.

If in any case you need to move away from something combing at you, a higher top speed will not help you. Acceleration will though and ebikes still have that.

If you're going full speed, more speed will not get you away from a truck moving towards you. You're much better off stopping or slowing down or even turning