eBike consultation complete

[pjclinch]

see https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... 50%20watts

The government has rejected the idea of bringing in 500W and throttle-controlled e-bikes/EAPCs

[Bmblbzzz]

My immediate reaction is "Given the amount of hostility to these ideas, and indeed to ebikes overall, on forums such as this let alone in the wider media, I'm not surprised." But I'll now proceed to read the report and may well discover that it wasn't like that at all!

[a.twiddler]

There just seems to be a resounding lack of interest in the subject among the general population, and many of those who responded seemed to have done so in a half hearted manner. All very disappointing, but not unsurprising.

[PeteK]

Good news. I responded to the consultation and was against the proposals as it would probably have led to all e-bikes being reclassified as mopeds and having to be licenced. There is definitely a problem with the illegal throttle controlled converted bikes and e- motorbikes such as Sur-rons being used unlicensed on roads and cycle paths. Many media outlets use the term 'e-bikes' to refer to all electric two wheelers. This tars us all with the same brush when they are reporting on crime like phone snatchers theft for example. Anything outside the definition of a legal e-bike should be reclassified as a moped.

[PeteK]

There just seems to be a resounding lack of interest in the subject among the general population, and many of those who responded seemed to have done so in a half hearted manner. All very disappointing, but not unsurprising.

That may be the case with a government consultation of which most people were not aware, but is not the case when media outlets run anti e-bike articles ,lumping all electric 2 wheelers together and provoking many to make comments suggesting the banning or licencing of e-bikes.

[axel_knutt]

I've spent hours arguing with people on Twitter, and nobody cares about the EAPC legislation. If they see pedals it's a bicycle, and the rider's a cyclist.

[Cowsham]

I've spent hours arguing with people on Twitter, and nobody cares about the EAPC legislation. If they see pedals it's a bicycle, and the rider's a cyclist.

Hours of your life you'll never get back.

[axel_knutt]

I've spent hours arguing with people on Twitter, and nobody cares about the EAPC legislation. If they see pedals it's a bicycle, and the rider's a cyclist.

Hours of your life you'll never get back.

People who voted for Brexit & trump did so because they felt ignored, and the people who lost thought they'd win by ignoring them.

[Jdsk]

New report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking:
"Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes"
https://appgcw.org/resources/inquiries/ ... l-e-bikes/

The report makes urgent recommendations, including:
– Calling on online retailers to immediately withdraw unsafe e-bike items from sale.
– Making online marketplaces legally accountable for unsafe listings.
– Working to create a government-backed e-bike safety kitemark in order to enable transport authorities and insurance companies to confidently lift e-bike bans.
– Reinstating ‘worker’ status for gig economy riders to guarantee rights and protections.
– Ending the Road-Legal Loophole that allows illegal vehicles to be sold under the guise of off-road use.
– Enforcing compliance from delivery platforms. Require delivery companies to run real-time compliance checks on the bikes used by couriers.
– Equipping police with new, simpler powers to seize unsafe e-bikes.
– Introducing a scrappage scheme for dangerous bikes used by couriers, funded by delivery companies.

Guardian coverage:
"Sales of illegal and dangerous ebikes must be stopped, say MPs and peers"
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/j ... -and-peers

Jonathan

[pjclinch]

New report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking:

And they got Laura Laker to do the report, so it looks like a Good Job with much Clue has been done

Pete.

[Grandad]

much Clue

??

[Chris Jeggo]

Not clueless?

[pjclinch]

Not clueless?

Indeed. Laura Laker knows her stuff.

Pete.

[Carlton green]

New report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking:
"Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes"
https://appgcw.org/resources/inquiries/ ... l-e-bikes/

The report makes urgent recommendations, including:
– Calling on online retailers to immediately withdraw unsafe e-bike items from sale.
– Making online marketplaces legally accountable for unsafe listings.
– Working to create a government-backed e-bike safety kitemark in order to enable transport authorities and insurance companies to confidently lift e-bike bans.
– Reinstating ‘worker’ status for gig economy riders to guarantee rights and protections.
– Ending the Road-Legal Loophole that allows illegal vehicles to be sold under the guise of off-road use.
– Enforcing compliance from delivery platforms. Require delivery companies to run real-time compliance checks on the bikes used by couriers.
– Equipping police with new, simpler powers to seize unsafe e-bikes.
– Introducing a scrappage scheme for dangerous bikes used by couriers, funded by delivery companies.

Guardian coverage:
"Sales of illegal and dangerous ebikes must be stopped, say MPs and peers"
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/j ... -and-peers

Jonathan

A raft of very sensible suggestions there and I hope that they are carried forward.

I’ve found that the Guardian has withdrawn its free viewing facility; you either pay up or have to accept advertisements. Lots of papers do the same and so make themselves inaccessible.