Crackdown on assisted pedicabs

[Miles]

BBC NEWS | England | London | Crackdown on 'souped-up pedicabs'

Miles

 

[flecc]

Presumably these won't be proprietary ones like the Cycles Maximus types, since they use either the low geared Heinzmann version which can reach about 11 mph at best assisted or the better Lynch motor which is all about hill climbing and very low revs torque and has little left at 8 mph.

It sounds more likely that some are fitting Crystalyte hub motors or the higher powered Cyclone crank motors, both capable of speeds well beyond the braking capability of these pedicabs when loaded.
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[Miles]

I guess so.

I was surprised at the 80% figure, though.

Based on my experience of being been hit by a black cab, I think I would prefer a pedicab, next time

 

[flecc]

Just seen the BBC London TV news on this item. One shown had a huge front hub motor, possibly Crystalyte, but another had a rear axle mounted motor that didn't appear to be the Lynch, though I could be wrong on that.

A senior police officer speaking to camera appeared to be somewhat confused regarding the law, unsurprising considering how little is known about e-bike law in general. He said they were motor vehicles (correct) but went on to say that the riders should be licenced and insured to make them legal, making no mention of the vehicle law. Of course, if motor vehicles, they must be type approved, registered, plated and road fund taxed, and a rider having a licence and insurance is secondary, irrelevant until that's done. Indeed, licence and insurance wouldn't even be possible before.

Although the Lynch motor is nominally a 200 watt one with almost all it's huge power potential only available at near stalling point, the fact is that all these e-pedicabs are going to be automatically motor vehicles and illegal as tricycles anyway, simply because they exceed the 60 kg limit for e-trikes. The popular Cycles Maximus for example is 122 kg in it's lightest electric version, more than double the limit.

This action may well lead to the end for commercial e-trikes in Britain, since getting below 60 kilos nett for a viable goods or passenger e-trike is very difficult, and once the police start to get more familiar with e-bike law, actions could spread. Regarding e-bikes in general, initially Londoners with illegal e-bikes probably have the most to fear from increasing Metropolitan Police knowledge.

P.S. Just seen your follow up Miles. I'm sure that 80% is exaggeration, and the Taxi Drivers Association who are always quick to attack pedicabs with criticisms of illegality at every opportunity would have picked up on this well before 20% was reached.
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[Phil the drill]

Interestingly, one of points made in the article quoted above was 'training'. Sounds good, but who exactly would qualify as a suitable 'trainer' for a pedicab? Not the police surely? You'd be 'avin' a larf .
Don't think they've quite thought this one through.......I wait with baited breath .

Phil

 

[Mussels]

Interestingly, one of points made in the article quoted above was 'training'. Sounds good, but who exactly would qualify as a suitable 'trainer' for a pedicab? Not the police surely? You'd be 'avin' a larf .
Don't think they've quite thought this one through.......I wait with baited breath .

Phil

It could be the same training mini cab drivers get - none.

 

[keithhazel]

It could be the same training mini cab drivers get - none.

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me g/f's sister was in london last week and she heard that any bumps they have they tend to just jump off and run as many of then either illegally here, uninsured, students or unemployed just earning some money working for someone else.so the bikes not theirs and they dont care....