Petition for law change - Ebike Assist Limit

[Pat "5mph"]

This has just appeared which will rapidly increase use of ebikes.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...hout-1000-limit-launched-uk-government-426596

Given time the UK government might adopt a more realistic policy

Deserves another thread - but what about concessions for the non working, the retired and less able?

Mod Note:
There is another thread about this, here.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding maximum and average speed.


We aren't discussing an AVERAGE of 20mph, but a maximum assisted speed, after which the motor cuts out. There seems to be some confusion about this.
As for the "wielrenners" the situation is exactly the same here in the UK - I wouldn't use a shared path if I could avoid it.

Given the relative difference of effort required to keep a "normal" bike at 20 mph as opposed to an E-bike, I think it's perfectly valid to look more to average than maximum speed.

I would imagine that most E-bikers would be operating their bike up to the cut-off limit.

And a cut off limit of 20 mph is too high in my experience and opinion.

Now, if you wanted to argue for a temporary boost to 20 mph for say 5 seconds on safety grounds, that would be a different argument.

 

[mcshroom]

If you want your ebike to go faster than 25 km/h, pedal it faster. A 25km/h assisted speed is well in excess of the average speed of most bicycles, and the places an unassisted bicycle is likely to exceed 25km/h are the ones that an unassisted e-bike would also exceed such a limit.

Either accept what you are asking for is actually a moped, with the requirements that attracts, or accept that 25 km/h is a pretty decent speed for a bicycle.

Or sulk that others don't support you. I suppose there is that option.

 

[jowwy]

If you want your ebike to go faster than 25 km/h, pedal it faster. A 25km/h assisted speed is well in excess of the average speed of most bicycles, and the places an unassisted bicycle is likely to exceed 25km/h are the ones that an unassisted e-bike would also exceed such a limit.

Either accept what you are asking for is actually a moped, with the requirements that attracts, or accept that 25 km/h is a pretty decent speed for a bicycle.

Or sulk that others don't support you. I suppose there is that option.

Or put an argument forward, as they have done in the US which allows Ebikes a cut off speed of 20mph.........which has nothing to do with sulking or anything else.

As I have already stated, I already have the ability to ride my ebike above the 15.5mph limit both on the flat and downhill, but people on this thread believe that’s illegal and it’s not.....some education aimed towards the unknowledgeable ebike is needed as to what is legal and illegal when it comes to Ebikes. Some are only using shared use paths as part of their argument, but Ebikes are allowed everywhere and are not just confined to shared use facilities. Some E Road bikers have also put debate/argument forward that increasing the limit would help in road use, when on club rides and for commuting. But those arguments have been quelled by the shouty anti Ebikers, which isn’t uncommon in this type of debate.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Or put an argument forward, as they have done in the US which allows Ebikes a cut off speed of 20mph.........which has nothing to do with sulking or anything else.

You're going to have to put up a link for that.

From my reading E-bikes are automatically banned from lots of dedicated paths, MUPs and various state parks and other facilities.

 

[jowwy]

Maybe time to post this link again.


View: https://youtu.be/vlxZs2-gICc


e-bikes are pretty damned fast already !

What ebike is he riding in this video???

 

[jowwy]

You're going to have to put up a link for that.

From my reading E-bikes are automatically banned from lots of dedicated paths, MUPs and various state parks and other facilities.

They may well be banned from some facilities, but they still have a cut off of 20mph

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Ebikes are allowed everywhere and are not just confined to shared use facilities.

No one is arguing about that, but you still haven't answered #19

 

[HobbesOnTour]

They may well be banned from some facilities, but they still have a cut off of 20mph

And that is what is being said by most people on this thread....
You want the limit raised to 20 mph? Fine - just stay on the roads.

 

[dodgy]

Maybe the US should drop their speed to 15.5mph, because that's what it is in Europe?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Maybe the US should drop their speed to 15.5mph, because that's what it is in Europe?

I'm sure the OP would agree with that, since that is his line of reasoning.

 

[roadrash]

sounds to me like someone wanting moped ability, with bicycle rules...…. I say that because they have dodged the question as to whether they would be happy to abide by moped rules. which is confusing when he says.... cars are not restricted, motorbikes are not restricted so why should ebikes be,..... if ebikes were to be de-restricted then surely they would be bound by the same rules.

 

[jowwy]

Maybe the US should drop their speed to 15.5mph, because that's what it is in Europe?

Why should they......they are happy with their allowable limits

 

[youngoldbloke]

If you want your ebike to go faster than 25 km/h, pedal it faster. A 25km/h assisted speed is well in excess of the average speed of most bicycles, and the places an unassisted bicycle is likely to exceed 25km/h are the ones that an unassisted e-bike would also exceed such a limit.

Either accept what you are asking for is actually a moped, with the requirements that attracts, or accept that 25 km/h is a pretty decent speed for a bicycle.

Or sulk that others don't support you. I suppose there is that option.

I find this post hard to take seriously. Confusion again about average and maximum.

 

[jowwy]

sounds to me like someone wanting moped ability, with bicycle rules...…. I say that because they have dodged the question as to whether they would be happy to abide by moped rules. which is confusing when he says.... cars are not restricted, motorbikes are not restricted so why should ebikes be,..... if ebikes were to be de-restricted then surely they would be bound by the same rules.

I have no problems at all sticking to roads if that would be the law. The same as I haven’t dongled my ebike to break the legal limits set out in the laws. Which is why I’m taking the legal route of signing the petition to try and get the limit increased slightly. Until then I will use my ebike within the bounds of what is legally allowable in the UK.....on both shared use and road networks.

I hope this helps you in your desire for seeking my answer to the question.