Cyclist and speeding laws help please.

[CopperCyclist]

Going back to cycling, I'd only worry about breaking a speed limit if it was a built up area or within a 20mph school zone.

Ah - you may however have to drive to the limit, and may be able to be summonsed for breaking them! That's on the presumption that your username means you ride an electric assist bike. (If you are just an electrician, or a modern day cybernetic human, I withdraw this claim!).

I can find no stated cases on this, so this is mostly just theorising on my part, (and Id be interested to know if @Cubist @Drago @VikeOnABike would agree with the below logic) however:

An electric bike has a small electric engine, and as such can be easily defined as a mechanically propelled vehicle.
A motor vehicle is 'any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on the road'.
I suspect most e-bikes are intended for use on, rather than off road. Even if this wasn't the case, if you add lights to it to help you be seen by cars, this would constitute adapting it for use on road.
It therefore follows that an e-bike is a motor vehicle and as such must obey speed limits - the fact that most give no assistance above 15mph is neither here nor there legislation-wise!

Back in the real world, if you actually manage to find an officer who will try this, you've been very, very unlucky!

 

[benborp]

Ah - you may however have to drive to the limit, and may be able to be summonsed for breaking them! That's on the presumption that your username means you ride an electric assist bike. (If you are just an electrician, or a modern day cybernetic human, I withdraw this claim!).

I can find no stated cases on this, so this is mostly just theorising on my part, (and Id be interested to know if @Cubist @Drago @VikeOnABike would agree with the below logic) however:

An electric bike has a small electric engine, and as such can be easily defined as a mechanically propelled vehicle.
A motor vehicle is 'any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on the road'.
I suspect most e-bikes are intended for use on, rather than off road. Even if this wasn't the case, if you add lights to it to help you be seen by cars, this would constitute adapting it for use on road.
It therefore follows that an e-bike is a motor vehicle and as such must obey speed limits - the fact that most give no assistance above 15mph is neither here nor there legislation-wise!

Back in the real world, if you actually manage to find an officer who will try this, you've been very, very unlucky!

Again, from RTRA 1984

140

Certain vehicles not to be treated as motor vehicles.​

(1)​

For the purposes of this Act—​

(a)​

a mechanically propelled vehicle which is an implement for cutting grass, is controlled by a pedestrian and is not capable of being used or adapted for any other purpose;​

(b)​

any other mechanically propelled vehicle controlled by a pedestrian which may be specified by regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section and of [section 189 of the Road Traffic Act 1988]; and​

(c)​

an electrically assisted pedal cycle of such class as may be prescribed by regulations so made,​

shall be treated as not being a motor vehicle. ​

(2)​

In this section “controlled by a pedestrian” means that the vehicle either—​

(a)​

is constructed or adapted for use only under such control, or​

(b)​

is constructed or adapted for use either under such control or under the control of a person carried on it, but is not for the time being in use under, or proceeding under, the control of a person carried on it.

The fact that most give no assistance above 15mph is very much here and there legislation wise as that is a requirement of the regulations that recognise an electrically assisted pedal cycle as such.

I want a gobstopper and some string.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Again, from RTRA 1984

I want a gobstopper and some string.

You should have asked for a diamond

 

[Electric_Andy]

Again, from RTRA 1984


The fact that most give no assistance above 15mph is very much here and there legislation wise as that is a requirement of the regulations that recognise an electrically assisted pedal cycle as such.

I want a gobstopper and some string.

Good work!

 

[Electric_Andy]

Are you sure? Discouraged, yes. Disallowed, I don't think so. I can imagine powers to prevent obstruction or nuisance being used in some circumstances, but don't believe there is a more general prohibition, still less one that would attract a fine. Does anyone have something definitive that would help?

Ok maybe I have lived in the city for too long - of course where I grew up we walked on the roads/lanes all the time. But I mean, even if it's not a Motorway, I could see a person being spoken to by a traffic officer if they were walking on the road (and there was a pavement on offer). I recall seeing one of those police, Camera, Action videos, and a lad was stopped and cautioned becasue he was walking in the road (not in the middle). Yes he had been drinking, but that wasn't why he was stopped. However he was told that the offence would be drunk and disorderly if he continued to use the road instead of the pavement.

 

[benborp]

You should have asked for a diamond

What would be the point of getting my hopes up? As far as I know Adrian's still waiting on his conkers!

 

[newfhouse]

I recall seeing one of those police, Camera, Action videos, and a lad was stopped and cautioned becasue he was walking in the road (not in the middle)

Advised perhaps, told off for his own benefit maybe, but not cautioned. That has a particular meaning when interacting with the police, as I'm sure one of the forum's officers will be able to explain.

 

[BentMikey]

Funny, I was just thinking about that! I guess they would be warned/fined for walking on a public highway. Regardless of speed, pedestrians are generally not allowed to walk along roads. Going back to cycling, I'd only worry about breaking a speed limit if it was a built up area or within a 20mph school zone.

I've learnt how much more enlightened the UK is on this. There are no jaywalking laws here, jaywalking laws are the sign of a backward country. Pedestrians are rightly allowed to walk on the public highway as needed. It's up to all of us to be careful around them, not to expect them to leap out of our way just because we're heavier and/or faster than them on a bike or in a car.

Besides, I bet you didn't know that the pavements are part of the public highway?

 

[BentMikey]

Ah - you may however have to drive to the limit, and may be able to be summonsed for breaking them! That's on the presumption that your username means you ride an electric assist bike. (If you are just an electrician, or a modern day cybernetic human, I withdraw this claim!).

I can find no stated cases on this, so this is mostly just theorising on my part, (and Id be interested to know if @Cubist @Drago @VikeOnABike would agree with the below logic) however:

An electric bike has a small electric engine, and as such can be easily defined as a mechanically propelled vehicle.
A motor vehicle is 'any mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on the road'.
I suspect most e-bikes are intended for use on, rather than off road. Even if this wasn't the case, if you add lights to it to help you be seen by cars, this would constitute adapting it for use on road.
It therefore follows that an e-bike is a motor vehicle and as such must obey speed limits - the fact that most give no assistance above 15mph is neither here nor there legislation-wise!

Back in the real world, if you actually manage to find an officer who will try this, you've been very, very unlucky!

Apart from Ben's reply, assuming it was a legal electric cycle, then it wouldn't be giving assist at above 15mph, so would destroy your argument.

I'm not sure whether Electric Andy's cycle is illegally modified or not, mind you. I've seen quite a few bikes in London that definitely were.

 

[Electric_Andy]

Apart from Ben's reply, assuming it was a legal electric cycle, then it wouldn't be giving assist at above 15mph, so would destroy your argument.

I'm not sure whether Electric Andy's cycle is illegally modified or not, mind you. I've seen quite a few bikes in London that definitely were.

No I'm all legal. When I go above 15mph I am pedalling a 27kg bike around!

 

[BentMikey]

Sorry for that tiny bit of doubt in my mind!