The EU regulations are about keeping an e-bike as a pure bicycle, just with assistance power to help with adverse circumstances like hills and headwinds.I still don`t really get why throttles are being phased out. Was there a reason given for the change?
Therefore all power control comes from pedalling only. That's the thinking, anyone of any age or experience who can ride a bike can ride a pedelec without any legal restriction.
Having an independently acting throttle changes the nature of the beast, turning it into a very low powered motorcycle, and it was because Britain had throttles that we uniquely had a lower age limit of 14 years. I doubt we can get rid of that silly lower age limit now though, it's not part of the EAPC regulations that are being amended but in the Road Traffic Act of 1988.
On the disability issue, e-bikes are not intended to be mobility vehicles and an EU powered bicycle class suitable for the disabled does exist, it's the Low Powered Moped class. That's bikes with pedals and throttles still limited to 15.5 mph but allowed up to 1000 watts so ideal for the disabled. They do have to be registered though and ridden with a licence, just like the petrol cyclemotors of yesteryear.
Some feel that's a big issue, but I don't think so since there were over a million people who jumped that hurdle in the 1950s to ride the petrol ones.
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