Only to 6kph, walking pace.Nearholmer wrote: ↑11 Aug 2022, 4:43pm The law permits ‘not pedalling’ e-bikes, provided they comply with speed and power limits.
Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
But under older legislation throttle control was allowed up to 15mph, I think.PH wrote: ↑11 Aug 2022, 4:56pmOnly to 6kph, walking pace.Nearholmer wrote: ↑11 Aug 2022, 4:43pm The law permits ‘not pedalling’ e-bikes, provided they comply with speed and power limits.
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Yes, prior to 2016.Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑11 Aug 2022, 5:08pmBut under older legislation throttle control was allowed up to 15mph, I think.PH wrote: ↑11 Aug 2022, 4:56pmOnly to 6kph, walking pace.Nearholmer wrote: ↑11 Aug 2022, 4:43pm The law permits ‘not pedalling’ e-bikes, provided they comply with speed and power limits.
But if you look around that's a tiny percentage of the bikes you'll see.
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Most newer Ebikes appear to have mid mounted motors driving via the chain ring. Is it even possible to have a throttle control on one of these these?
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Although in fact the law isn't comprehensively clear, "tenbikes" hits the nail right on the head.
Human behaviour and consideration/respect/concern for others is at a very low ebb.
If I were to tell you the things I've seen, and things others have told me about, on our local Greenway/cyclepath you wouldn't believe me.
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Coming close to needing e assistance I am trying to figure out the legal aspects as apply with a front wheel drive conversion kit.
From above I get 250W and built in speed restrictor cutting power at 15mph.
Do either of these impact on battery size, which I assume a prime determinant of range?
How do I tell if a conversion kit IS legal?
From above I get 250W and built in speed restrictor cutting power at 15mph.
Do either of these impact on battery size, which I assume a prime determinant of range?
How do I tell if a conversion kit IS legal?
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
As you say, battery size is simply the size of a fuel tank as it were, nothing to do with speed or power.
Buy from a reputable dealer unless you know exactly what you are looking at. Woosh seem to have a good reputation from what I have read, and an informative website https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?hubkitsHow do I tell if a conversion kit IS legal?
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Look for a CE mark of conformity on the kit? The ones I've seen have the manufacturer's name, EN15194 standard, 250W power output limit and 25 km/h speed cut-off marked on them. These were on assembled ebikes and not kits, but I assume kits must have the same markings?
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Thanks both. Identifying a "reputable" dealer doesn't seem easy - front wheel conversion kits appear to be very much the low-end of the market and there are truck loads of them out there!
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
If the police ever stop a derestricted ebike, there's a whole raft of charges they can use, since it's a motor vehicle.
No tax, no insurance, no motorbike helmet, no licence, no MoT, no type approval for the vehicle, etc etc.
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
I saw a huge electric bike today, almost certainly not a legal e-bike. The irony is that he was on the pavement waiting for pedestrian lights to change as I cycled past on green on the road.
I also saw 2 mid age women on some sort of mobility scooters. They were on the (seafront) pavement doing a lot more than 4 mph. I got the impression they were using them as transport, rather than mobility aids. No problem with that, but at that speed they were illegal on the pavement. I can see these 'scooters' becoming a popular form of transport - in fact a non disabled friend has one but 'drives' it on the road, legally.
I also saw 2 mid age women on some sort of mobility scooters. They were on the (seafront) pavement doing a lot more than 4 mph. I got the impression they were using them as transport, rather than mobility aids. No problem with that, but at that speed they were illegal on the pavement. I can see these 'scooters' becoming a popular form of transport - in fact a non disabled friend has one but 'drives' it on the road, legally.
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Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Isn't that what a mobility aid does? Someone near me has "mobility aid" and he proudly tells me its range is 28 miles, before the next charge is needed.
I think 8mph is the legal maximum but on roads (carriageways).
"It takes a genius to spot the obvious" - my old physics master.
I don't peddle bikes.
I don't peddle bikes.
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
8mph is rather an awkward max speed. Too fast for pavements but not really fast enough for busy roads. Must lead to some scary overtakes.
Re: Legal speed restrictions on electric bikes
Some earlier "invalid carriages" would have been fun on cycle routes:
"These early vehicles were powered by an air-cooled Villiers 147 cc engine, but when production of that engine ceased in the early 1970s it was replaced by a much more powerful 4-stroke 500 cc or 600 cc Steyr-Puch engine, giving a reported top speed of 82 mph (132 km/h).[13] They were low-cost, low-maintenance vehicles, designed specifically for people with physical disabilities. Production of them stopped in 1976, and the last were withdrawn from the road in 2003,...."
"These early vehicles were powered by an air-cooled Villiers 147 cc engine, but when production of that engine ceased in the early 1970s it was replaced by a much more powerful 4-stroke 500 cc or 600 cc Steyr-Puch engine, giving a reported top speed of 82 mph (132 km/h).[13] They were low-cost, low-maintenance vehicles, designed specifically for people with physical disabilities. Production of them stopped in 1976, and the last were withdrawn from the road in 2003,...."