Increase in seizures of illegal ebikes

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Neither the riders nor the companies want them to be employees though. It would cost the delivery companies quite a bit more, having to pay PAYE and NI, plus other employment related expenses, which would probably be enough to make the services uneconomical.

While the riders prefer the flexibility of being self-employed, and of course most will not be declaring their full earnings to the taxman, if they declare anything at all.

Any legislation requiring that the delivery companies had to employ the drivers/riders carrying out the deliveries would be very hard to word in a way which would not cause massive problems in other walks of life where freelancing is common.

Absolutely correct that the companies do not want them as employees. Not quite as straightforward for the riders. A group of Deliveroo riders did take the company to court a few years back with the case bought by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain. They wanted collective bargaining rights, similar to the case Uber drivers tried. Both cases were ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court, largely because as they are free to decline jobs and take on work for other companies, calling them employees of one given company would be impossible under the current relationship.

 

[classic33]

Police in Leeds this morning were out checking e-bikes - saw a couple being taken away. Annoyingly they chose to park a couple of police vehicles in the segregated cycle lane as part of this process.

They seized two last night, on York Street, opposite the bus station main entrance.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

The technically electric mopeds (assist, often above the 25Kph UK limit, without the need to pedal) are a menace.

 

[T4tomo]

They seized two last night, on York Street, opposite the bus station main entrance.
View attachment 768591

correct I cant see them in that picture

 

[Drago]

Police in Leeds this morning were out checking e-bikes - saw a couple being taken away. Annoyingly they chose to park a couple of police vehicles in the segregated cycle lane as part of this process.

Should have called 101 to complain.

 

[Beebo]

https://apple.news/An-ELF01iStiA_a6EmFaD5w

Another big fire in London last night. 11 people in hospital but no deaths.
Would you want to live in a block of flats with a load of gig economy ebike riders.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

There really needs to be some sort of national standard that lithium batteries need to comply with

when I say "needs to be" - I am more thinking of "there should have been one sorted out and enforced about 10 years ago"

it would be difficult to do something now - and would take a long time

but confiscating every dodgy ebike (actually electric powered motorbike) would be a start
and if that means I get pulled over a few times then that is fine by me

 

[classic33]

https://apple.news/An-ELF01iStiA_a6EmFaD5w

Another big fire in London last night. 11 people in hospital but no deaths.
Would you want to live in a block of flats with a load of gig economy ebike riders.

Fire in a block of flats near me that got local roads closed early this year. Everyone evacuated onto the roads outside.
First "reports" said it was a cigarette discarded into a pile of laundry. Later ones confirmed an ebike on charge was behind the fire. Not the first one in the same block, but the first that has had the roads closed.

 

[Mike Ayling]

Police in Leeds this morning were out checking e-bikes - saw a couple being taken away. Annoyingly they chose to park a couple of police vehicles in the segregated cycle lane as part of this process.

Pity they aren't doing it here in Oz

 

[mjr]

There really needs to be some sort of national standard that lithium batteries need to comply with

when I say "needs to be" - I am more thinking of "there should have been one sorted out and enforced about 10 years ago"

I think it's the "and enforced" bit which has been missing under a succession of governments.

it would be difficult to do something now - and would take a long time

but confiscating every dodgy ebike (actually electric powered motorbike) would be a start
and if that means I get pulled over a few times then that is fine by me

And if your bike gets confiscated by mistake (as people are imperfect, so errors will happen), is that still fine by you?

 

[mjr]

Neither the riders nor the companies want them to be employees though. It would cost the delivery companies quite a bit more, having to pay PAYE and NI, plus other employment related expenses, which would probably be enough to make the services uneconomical.

While the riders prefer the flexibility of being self-employed, and of course most will not be declaring their full earnings to the taxman, if they declare anything at all.

Any legislation requiring that the delivery companies had to employ the drivers/riders carrying out the deliveries would be very hard to word in a way which would not cause massive problems in other walks of life where freelancing is common.

The taxman? That's a little dehumanising, don't you think?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFKZz64bMQ

 

[wiggydiggy]

Making companies employing people using these bikes to check to ensure their staff are using UK legal eBikes would be a good idea as well.

And I know companies like Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, Food Hub, etc don't class the people that deliver the food as staff, but that doesn't excuse them from not checking this anyway or having fines/prosecution levied against them for doing nothing to help the situation.

 

[classic33]

And if your bike gets confiscated by mistake (as people are imperfect, so errors will happen), is that still fine by you?

It's what was, and is being, done in Ireland following the crackdown on such bikes. And it's down to the rider to prove that it meets requirements to be on the roads. Not the Guards.

Isn't it how they deal with all motor vehicles, in this country, that have been seized on the roads. The owner and driver provide the relevant documentation to prove the vehicle, and driver, could be on the road in the first place. A "Producer" is the common name for the paperwork handed over when the vehicle is seized, I believe.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I think it's the "and enforced" bit which has been missing under a succession of governments.


And if your bike gets confiscated by mistake (as people are imperfect, so errors will happen), is that still fine by you?

same for everything
If you base all enforcement on the basis that you never do ANYTHING unless you can be 100% certain that no mistake will ever be made
then you do nothing

as long as the enforcement people are properly trained then I would support it
and if they make a mistake and confiscate my bike then there are system available to deal with that
same as if my car was seized based on a faulty basis

sometimes these things happen

 

[Alex321]

It's what was, and is being, done in Ireland following the crackdown on such bikes. And it's down to the rider to prove that it meets requirements to be on the roads. Not the Guards.

Isn't it how they deal with all motor vehicles, in this country, that have been seized on the roads. The owner and driver provide the relevant documentation to prove the vehicle, and driver, could be on the road in the first place. A "Producer" is the common name for the paperwork handed over when the vehicle is seized, I believe.

It is VERY rare for a vehicle to just be siezed at the roadside. It does happen, but very rarely. "Producers" are normally issued without any seizure.