Ebike prosecutions
Discussion
My understanding is that ebikes are only treated as bicycles if they are limited so that they only provide assistance if you pedal and no assistance about 25 kmh. An ebike that exceeds that is treated as a type of motored vehicle and you need a licence and third party insurance.
In practice do they police check and are people being convicted of driving without insurance for tampered or non standard ebikes?
If you have a non standard ebike do you need to wear a motorcycle helmet?
In practice do they police check and are people being convicted of driving without insurance for tampered or non standard ebikes?
If you have a non standard ebike do you need to wear a motorcycle helmet?
“ If you bought an ebike with a full-speed throttle before January 1 2016, don’t panic: those sold prior to this date are still considered as EAPC and do not require a registration or taxed. Practically, you could still buy one a ‘twist and go’ and not be fined, but it would have to have been produced or imported before January 1.”
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/el...
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/el...
Think you would have to be riding like a t
t, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.
t, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride._Hoppers said:
“ If you bought an ebike with a full-speed throttle before January 1 2016, don’t panic: those sold prior to this date are still considered as EAPC and do not require a registration or taxed. Practically, you could still buy one a ‘twist and go’ and not be fined, but it would have to have been produced or imported before January 1.”
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/el...
If you actually read the article fully you will find:https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/el...
THE THROTTLE ‘DILEMMA’
Harmonisation with EU law has had an important effect on electric bikes with ‘twist and go’ throttles that can take the bike to full speed without any pedalling at all.
From January 1 2016, the only throttles legal within the UK’s EAPC legislation are those that assist the rider without pedalling up to a maximum speed of 6 km/h (3.7 mph) – i.e. starting assistance only.
If the rider is rolling – but not pedalling – faster than 6km/h, the throttle cuts off. If the cyclist pedals at the same time then the throttle can still assist up to the general limit of 15.5mph.
If you bought an ebike with a full-speed throttle before January 1 2016, don’t panic: those sold prior to this date are still considered as EAPC and do not require a registration or taxed. Practically, you could still buy one a ‘twist and go’ and not be fined, but it would have to have been produced or imported before January 1.
So actually a 'full speed throttle (whatever the hell that is) is not legal on a UK/EU e-bike.
Simply to be legal in the UK/Eu and classes as a pedal cycle they need to b eas follows:
UK EBIKE DEFINITIONS AND THE LAW
The UK legislation was harmonised with EU law EN15194 in April 2015, and there have been no changes thus far following Brexit. For now it's pretty clear in defining what can – and what cannot – be called an ebike.
Your steed is an "electrically assisted pedal cycle" (or EAPC, or ebike, or Pedelec) if: the bike has pedals that propel it; the electric motor won't assist you when you’re travelling more than 25 km/h (15.5mph); and the power doesn't exceed 250 watts.
The cycles that meet these requirements (which affect two-wheeled bikes but also tandems and tricycles) can be ridden on any cycle paths and anywhere else that bikes are normally allowed.
In the UK you must be over 14 years old to ride an electric bike but you don’t need a licence, nor do you need to register it or pay vehicle tax.
You may find off-road bikes that can go faster than 15.5 mph by flicking a switch, but for UK law these are not compliant with EAPC regulations for on-road use.
Esceptico said:
My understanding is that ebikes are only treated as bicycles if they are limited so that they only provide assistance if you pedal and no assistance about 25 kmh. An ebike that exceeds that is treated as a type of motored vehicle and you need a licence and third party insurance.
In practice do they police check and are people being convicted of driving without insurance for tampered or non standard ebikes?
If you have a non standard ebike do you need to wear a motorcycle helmet?
The same topic has been raised on here a number of times recently. Why are some people desperate to see restrictions placed on ebikes? What issues are you seeing? In practice do they police check and are people being convicted of driving without insurance for tampered or non standard ebikes?
If you have a non standard ebike do you need to wear a motorcycle helmet?
Personally I think 25km/h is too slow. Unless you're riding badly or much faster than anyone else then I don't think the police would bother riders.
tony wright said:
Think you would have to be riding like a tt, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.
This one got noticed...30 mph uphill and not pedallingt, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/el...
I've never seen police stopping an ebike, but I've seen them stopping e-scooters, and their new found knowledge of the laws around e-scooters has them now stopping e-boards.
I rode a home-made electric skateboard for around 2 years, often back from the pub along (a totally unused) pavement and also rode it round town, once with the mrs on the back! Not a jot of interest. However, someone in a town near by just got points and a fine on an electric skateboard for no insurance, tax etc. and they are actively prosecuting e-scooter riders for drink driving. That was the end of my e-board use.
It seems you can cycle where you want, pissed if you like, but new technology that is easily identifiable as electric only (..easily identifiable - might be the key here!) has become an (easy) target.
Personally, I think it's crap that you can get points etc for using an e-scooter, but there you are.
I rode a home-made electric skateboard for around 2 years, often back from the pub along (a totally unused) pavement and also rode it round town, once with the mrs on the back! Not a jot of interest. However, someone in a town near by just got points and a fine on an electric skateboard for no insurance, tax etc. and they are actively prosecuting e-scooter riders for drink driving. That was the end of my e-board use.
It seems you can cycle where you want, pissed if you like, but new technology that is easily identifiable as electric only (..easily identifiable - might be the key here!) has become an (easy) target.
Personally, I think it's crap that you can get points etc for using an e-scooter, but there you are.
Agreed, I have absolutely no issue exceeding 15mph on my road bike and think 25kph is too slow. As for the thumb throttle, I have one fitted and use it for pulling away from junctions, or crossing a busy road and rarely use whilst riding, although it can assist whilst climbing a steep incline whilst pedalling.
kent_phil said:
This one got noticed...30 mph uphill and not pedalling
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/el...
I have absolutely no issue with this as I mentioned earlier, if you ride like a prat expect the worse.https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/el...
dibbers006 said:
tony wright said:
Think you would have to be riding like a tt, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.
Could you share some info on the builds, parts, issues etc.t, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.Considering doing this to one of mine but getting bogged down in spec.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
tony wright said:
Think you would have to be riding like a tt, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.
Let's say you were not riding like an idiot, but some old granny steps into the road, she gets hit and badly injured. No cctv so her word against yours, and the copper on scene finds out it was modified.t, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.What are you looking at if in court?
dibbers006 said:
Could you share some info on the builds, parts, issues etc.
Considering doing this to one of mine but getting bogged down in spec.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bafang-BBS02B-Electric-Conversion-Mountain/dp/B07S4CF8TM/ref=asc_df_B07LFY2ZFF/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=337715828054&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6786336616502200337&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006659&hvtargid=pla-606683104280&th=1&psc=1Considering doing this to one of mine but getting bogged down in spec.
This is the one I fitted to both mine and the Wife’s bike. Delivery time was quick as they seem to sell so many they now have a warehouse based in either EU, or UK and normally arrives within a week. Junstar were also very good when it came to customer service as my C500 display went down and they sent out a replacement straight away plus an extra device for my inconvenience.
Fitting is pretty straight forward, although I had to purchase a couple of tools to strip down the old bikes, i.e. removing bottom brackets etc, but in principle very straight forward with good instructions. You also have loads of YouTube videos if required. Simply count the amount of teeth on your front sprocket to determine what ring you need then battery choice is determined by costs, position (down tube or rear rack) and how much power, travelling distance you will require.
hyphen said:
tony wright said:
Think you would have to be riding like a tt, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.
Let's say you were not riding like an idiot, but some old granny steps into the road, she gets hit and badly injured. No cctv so her word against yours, and the copper on scene finds out it was modified.t, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.What are you looking at if in court?
Don't know if there is something on the bike that records it has been modded.
You can restrict mine to the UK limit of 25kmh using the controller, but imagine if the police delved further they could easily find out something is amiss. Annoying really, as in my youth I managed 50mph (downhill during a triathlon) on my racing bike wearing only a polystyrene helmet, trunks and a vest.
hyphen said:
tony wright said:
Think you would have to be riding like a tt, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.
Let's say you were not riding like an idiot, but some old granny steps into the road, she gets hit and badly injured. No cctv so her word against yours, and the copper on scene finds out it was modified.t, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.What are you looking at if in court?
Gareth79 said:
hyphen said:
tony wright said:
Think you would have to be riding like a tt, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.
Let's say you were not riding like an idiot, but some old granny steps into the road, she gets hit and badly injured. No cctv so her word against yours, and the copper on scene finds out it was modified.t, or involved in an accident for the police to even notice you. I’ve converted both my own and Wife’s bike with 750w Bafang motors that are capable of 40 mph using pedal assist and ridden them without issue for the last 4 years, including riding past parked police cars. They are fantastic bits of kit if used sensibly and we think nothing of jumping on them and going for a 30 mile ride.What are you looking at if in court?
Never mind hitting an aged person , make that someone younger and someone with say children to look after ....you are financially finished and the judge deciding this would not be letting you off like some motoring offense nonsense prosecution like K Price. Injured person may be partially deemed as "contributory negligent " but you would still potentially be ruined .
Unemployed and have absolutely no assets ...don't worry ...rock on.
Cylon2007 said:
_Hoppers said:
“ If you bought an ebike with a full-speed throttle before January 1 2016, don’t panic: those sold prior to this date are still considered as EAPC and do not require a registration or taxed. Practically, you could still buy one a ‘twist and go’ and not be fined, but it would have to have been produced or imported before January 1.”
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/el...
If you actually read the article fully you will find...............https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/el...
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