BBC Breakfast item today on illegally modded ebikes

[Electric_Andy]

I'm at least glad in the article that they have finally thought it important to describe what a legal e-bike is. Many articles (especially a local one where the e-motorcylist was critically injured) just refer to them as "ebikes" so uneducated people assume that even legal ones are the ones doing 40mph with no license!

 

[Dan Lotus]

Off topic a bit, but I really believe there is a place for ebikes as proper commuting machines, with a higher limit for faster roads.
15.5mph is only really going to assist me uphill or into a serious headwind on a regular basis.

My commute used to be about 1h20, and I would have seriously considered an e-bike to cut that down to around an hour each way, and I would have ridden in more frequently as well.

As is, they still have a purpose and a place, but for me, the potential is not being fulfilled.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Off topic a bit, but I really believe there is a place for ebikes as proper commuting machines, with a higher limit for faster roads.
15.5mph is only really going to assist me uphill or into a serious headwind on a regular basis.

My commute used to be about 1h20, and I would have seriously considered an e-bike to cut that down to around an hour each way, and I would have ridden in more frequently as well.

As is, they still have a purpose and a place, but for me, the potential is not being fulfilled.

I think you mean bringing something like what the Dutch government call a speed pedalec into use in the UK.

Theres no need to change existing laws to do that. Buy one, tax and register it and it's suitable to use in the UK.

 

[Drago]

Theres no need to change existing laws to do that. Buy one, tax and register it and it's suitable to use in the UK.

Exactly this,

I cant understand why people want a moped but are unwilling to,arrange the minor and inexpensive matters of tax, insurance and MOT.

The line between licenced and unlicensed has to be drawn somewhere, and its quite sensible that it is somewhat south of what has been successfully legislated as a moped for half a century now.

Legal EPACs exist. If you want more get a legal speed pedelec and pay the minimal tax and insurance to go along with it.

 

[Badger_Boom]

Back in the 70's loads of us had 'field bikes', generally mopeds or small capacity motorbikes that we rode around farm lanes or the local quarry*.
These high powered e-bikes just seem a new version of this, no doubt 'older folks' were just as pished off by us back then.

* even Allan Millyard did it but being him he grafted a Mini 850 engine into a BSA Bantam frame..............by his own account it was lethal.

The problem is that most of these are on a high street or pavement in already busy towns and cities not out of the way of everyone else.

We encountered a young belter wheelying his way at speed down a local shared path the other day. There are enough small children, oldies and dogs using the same space that someone (with luck only the rider himself) will get hit and injured before long. We’ve already had one ebike fatality nearby on the same network, and I doubt that will be the last.

 

[Psamathe]

Report I saw was a brief campaign in one city. I'd have thought all cities suffer same so why aren't more Police forces doing this.

As I understand it it's a significant offence(s) eg illegal vehicle, no insurance, motorbike in pedestrian area, no licence (no L plates),etc.

Ian

 

[Electric_Andy]

Report I saw was a brief campaign in one city. I'd have thought all cities suffer same so why aren't more Police forces doing this.

As I understand it it's a significant offence(s) eg illegal vehicle, no insurance, motorbike in pedestrian area, no licence (no L plates),etc.

Ian

The police can rarely catch them, as they can go through narrow alleys etc. and when they do catch them, there's injuries or worse, riots and cries of "he was such a good boy, never dun nuffink to no one"

 

[DRM]

The police can rarely catch them, as they can go through narrow alleys etc. and when they do catch them, there's injuries or worse, riots and cries of "he was such a good boy, never dun nuffink to no one"

And he loved his Mum/Grandma/Dog/Cat etc etc

 

[Kingfisher101]

The Police are not really interested in things like this. they tend to just bother with very serious criminal matters, like murder/ terrorism/ serious road crashes. Followed by crimes against the state or on nasty things posted on social media.

 

[Drago]

The police can rarely catch them, as they can go through narrow alleys etc. and when they do catch them, there's injuries or worse, riots and cries of "he was such a good boy, never dun nuffink to no one"

For the most part the dibble simply aren't permitted to pursue them.

 

[markemark]

If I was earning 50p a delivery I would mod my bike to earn just about enough money to stay afloat. And considering the amount of law breaking done by delivery/professional drivers in cars/lorries/vans than kills hundreds per death by ebike, that’s what we should be focusing on.
I remember a report that showed something like 70% of hgv drivers illegally modded their tacho. And let’s not even start to think about other large vehicles that speed, run lights, use mobiles at the wheel.
Given the illegality on the roads ans the death and injury that happens daily, some Deliveroo rider going 25 is pretty much entirely irritating but inconsequential.

I see hundreds of delivery e-bikes daily. Are they the problem when I’m walking/cycling? Are they the ones killing and injuring daily? No, it’s the motor vehicles.

 

[Kingfisher101]

Yeah

If I was earning 50p a delivery I would mod my bike to earn just about enough money to stay afloat. And considering the amount of law breaking done by delivery/professional drivers in cars/lorries/vans than kills hundreds per death by ebike, that’s what we should be focusing on.
I remember a report that showed something like 70% of hgv drivers illegally modded their tacho. And let’s not even start to think about other large vehicles that speed, run lights, use mobiles at the wheel.
Given the illegality on the roads ans the death and injury that happens daily, some Deliveroo rider going 25 is pretty much entirely irritating but inconsequential.

I see hundreds of delivery e-bikes daily. Are they the problem when I’m walking/cycling? Are they the ones killing and injuring daily? No, it’s the motor vehicles.

Yeah more or less. Its not them on the roads that's the issue from what I've seen. Its going very fast on pavements where there's, elderly people, little kids, people with prams etc. Its not just them that's a problem its elderly people in motorized buggies going too fast and ploughing through shoppers/ people on the street etc.

 

[Drago]

Yeah

Yeah more or less. Its not them on the roads that's the issue from what I've seen. Its going very fast on pavements where there's, elderly people, little kids, people with prams etc. Its not just them that's a problem its elderly people in motorized buggies going too fast and ploughing through shoppers/ people on the street etc.

Yet for all that conventional motor vehicles kill 40 times more people a year on the footway.

I believe it's correct this issue is addressed, but the blind eye turned by society and media and society of cars, vans and lorries that kill on the footway is breathtaking.

 

[markemark]

Yet for all that conventional motor vehicles kill 40 times more people a year on the footway.

I believe it's correct this issue is addressed, but the blind eye turned by society and media and society of cars, vans and lorries that kill on the footway is breathtaking.

And running red lights. Who does all the killing by running red lights? It ain’t bikes.

 

[Baldy]

I remember a report that something like 70% of hgv drivers illegally modded their tacho.

That is nonsense, even with the old paper disks it was never possible to alter your tacho without it showing. With the new digital ones it isn't possible. Just because you read something on the Internet doesn't mean it's true.