BBC Breakfast item today on illegally modded ebikes

[Psamathe]

(I don't even have an e-bike so very limited knowledge so please do correct me ...)
I don't consider these things as illegal e-bikes but rather as motor vehicles being ridden without necessary approvals, that don't comply with the law/regulations, driven without insurance by drivers who have no license covering the vehicle type and often driven in places where such vehicles are not permitted. That they happen to look like "bikes" and maybe even were historically "bikes" isn't relevant because they've have works changing them into a different type of vehicle.

Or, I just don't properly understand e-bikes.

Ian

 

[mustang1]

On one side, we have the delivery riders who are trying to make a living. Their employers say they take safety seriously but on the other hand it's in the company's interest to get food delivered quickly, so maybe they give just enough priority to safety to keep food being delivered, riders safe-enough, and the money coming in. High frequency, low type of problem.

And then there's the dark side where illegal e-bikes are used in crime: phone snatching and whatever else. Low frequency (but maybe high enough?), high type of problem. I think this is what needs to be tackled first with harsh punishments.

 

[Psamathe]

On one side, we have the delivery riders who are trying to make a living. Their employers say they take safety seriously but on the other hand it's in the company's interest to get food delivered quickly, so maybe they give just enough priority to safety to keep food being delivered, riders safe-enough, and the money coming in. High frequency, low type of problem.

Without wanting to move into NCAP discussions, is part of the problem our "system" where customers are not paying the true cost of services they are using? Should we not be paying people adequately such that they don't feel they need to break the law to live?

Customers will appear cost sensitive but they pay for hygiene, pay for safe food standards (eg food not full of carcinogenic pesticides), etc. So, if those I'd regard as "employers" (the restaurants) won't pay properly for whatever reason, maybe legislation is necessary.

Ian

 

[Drago]

These Geronimo riders are already ignoring a fistful of regs and legislation.

A new raft of legislation for all concerned to ignore is therefore unlikely to have a positive impact.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Without wanting to move into NCAP discussions, is part of the problem our "system" where customers are not paying the true cost of services they are using? Should we not be paying people adequately such that they don't feel they need to break the law to live?

Customers will appear cost sensitive but they pay for hygiene, pay for safe food standards (eg food not full of carcinogenic pesticides), etc. So, if those I'd regard as "employers" (the restaurants) won't pay properly for whatever reason, maybe legislation is necessary.

Ian

I mean as a cost comparison it's price gouging for delivery food, especially that which wasn't traditionally available before the couriers stepped in.

In 2020 I could buy for delivery (from a dominos driver) 3 large pizzas for £30. It's now £14 each or £24 for 2. So for 3 it's £38, way above inflation rise.

It's just greed that driving the prices for delivered food and the courier gets a pittance, I'd only order local and direct from the takeaway now.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Can we have a Healy breakaway attempt in yellow for the lols?🤣

 

[raleighnut]

They would also have to bring in something around checking all vehicles used by contractors are road legal. I doubt any company who hires a builder is currently checking that the builder's vans have got valid MOT and Tax. I'm not saying this is a bad idea, but generally you can't apply specific laws to delivery riders and their affiliated "employers" without applying it across the board.

Many years ago we had a Conservatory built by a reputable company to a custom design of my own (Needhans of Loughborough)) then a few years later we had them fit some new windows and got talking to the guy who did that. Apparently the guy who built our Conservatory didn't have a driving licence despite the company van...................he'd worked for them for over ten years

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

(I don't even have an e-bike so very limited knowledge so please do correct me ...)
I don't consider these things as illegal e-bikes but rather as motor vehicles being ridden without necessary approvals, that don't comply with the law/regulations, driven without insurance by drivers who have no license covering the vehicle type and often driven in places where such vehicles are not permitted. That they happen to look like "bikes" and maybe even were historically "bikes" isn't relevant because they've have works changing them into a different type of vehicle.

Or, I just don't properly understand e-bikes.

Ian

This is exactly what they are
just unlicensed motorbikes with no MOT, reg plate or anything- being ridden by people with no motorbike license and not wearing a helmet - etc etc

 

[classic33]

Safety Officers in Leeds, and elsewhere, can't do anything about them using the pavements illegally, blocking the pavements when they park up. They can't apparently park up using the provided cycle racks, so may use street furniture to lock them to. They carry no number plates, so no tickets can be issued for illegal parking.
West Yorkshire Police officers regard them as bicycles, "They have pedals!". This means they can't do anything about them being illegal as no one set of orders seems to have been given to different every division. Personal opinion here, but I think they've been told to ignore them if possible. They can do that, but at some point, someone innocent is going to be hurt by one of them. Maybe even killed by one.

I've been pulled before by the police, because of what I was riding at the time. Fitting the lights I'd need before I got home in front of them. They're carried if I know there's a chance of part of the trip requiring them, not always fitted to the bike.

Why aren't the simple regulations, well known by many in authority, not applied to e-bikes?
I'm not thinking of anything obscure, but the simple stuff, as given above, lights, traffic signs/signals, travelling the wrong way up a one way street.
We often talk about black bike ninjas, dressed in black riding in the dark with no lights. Compound that with the possibility that you may have such a person travelling at speed, at night against the flow of traffic. Or as seen last week across three lanes of traffic going in both directions. Enforcement on these is possible, so why isn't it.

 

[slowmotion]

This is exactly what they are
just unlicensed motorbikes with no MOT, reg plate or anything- being ridden by people with no motorbike license and not wearing a helmet - etc etc

........and usually, with a complete disregard for the Highway Code........