To each his or own Camino, including the method of accomplishing it. The fact remains that ANY bicycle, unicycle, or tricycle that MUST be pedaled to move forward is considered a bicycle for purposes of Compostela eligibility.
Thus, any bicycle type device with motor assist capability, that MUST be pedaled to permit the assist function to work, is also legitimate for this purpose.
We are seeing more and more of these arriving at the pilgrim office in Santiago. It is not something that can be easily stopped. We are also seeing people who might not otherwise be able do do a Camino at all, using these electric assist bicycles.
None of us has to like this, or feel compelled to undertake our Camino this way. We are however called to try to understand each pilgrim’s “backstory” and to respect their choices.
For what it’s worth, when I can no longer comfortably walk a Camino, using an electric assist bicycle is MY Plan B.