Police

[steve.c]

Hi. On my way home from work just now a police car pulled up beside me at the traffic lights they went green so off I went on a long slightly down hill stretch for about 1/2 mile and the police car kept pace just behind me the whole way??? I was in high assist doing about 25mph and pedalling all the time but the thought came into my mind that if I stopped pedalling and carried on and then let it run in freewheel the would have stopped me because I was going to fast for an electric bike !!!!! And as they went passed they gave me and the bike a very very long look???.Steve

 

[flecc]

As you were running downhill, even if you had stopped pedalling I can't see that they could prove anything without having the bike tested Steve. Of course it may just have been interest, there aren't large numbers of e-bikes about, and in that area many owners of them are retired somewhat sedate riders.

 

[rog_london]

There's no reason why you should have a problem. If you're pedalling there's no way can they tell whether the motor is still helping you at 25mph or not. Specifically the law states that the motor must not assist you at any speed above approximately 15mph, but as a cyclist you are not subject to speed limits.

What chances are there that you could have a problem?

Three scenarios spring to mind.

One - obviously - if you are going along a flat road or uphill and not pedalling yet you are exceeding 15mph a policeman may reasonably assume that your bike is exceeding the 15mph assist limit. No defence there, but you wouldn't be so foolish, would you?

The second scenario would be if the policeman were not fully conversant with the law regarding assisted bicycles and might try to give you grief - in which case you take the sensible approach of being polite and co-operative but make sure you explain the rules to him/her. It doesn't guarantee you won't still get wrongfully detained, but you're bound to win in the end.

The third scenario would be if your bike were illegal and you were unlucky enough to encounter a knowledgeable copper. So far, as far as I know, that hasn't happened yet, but it's in the nature of these things that it will happen sooner or later.

Sorry Flecc - crossed posts

Rog.

 

[flecc]

No problem Rog, second opinions always good.

 

[mike killay]

My guess is that they were just interested, like so many other peopl are. Bare in mind that some Police forces issue e-bikes.

 

[johnc461165]

I always let police cars get past before I use power (they get jealous when they can't get past)

 

[lectureral]

I am with mike killay - I was stopped once - policeman strode out into the road, hand up. Once I was stopped he said he'd been thinking about buying an electric bike and then asked me questions about price, range etc.

 

[Eaglerider]

I always let police cars get past before I use power (they get jealous when they can't get past)

I too appear to suffer with this paranoia. I don't think my subconcious mind has accepted that I'm perfectly legal, but I tend to peddle hard and make like I'm really trying to conceal the huge power hidden within. I guess its just that riding Motorcycles all my life, and the customary 'Cat & Mouse' with the Police is still a difficult mindset to shrug off. In my experience, if the Police are taking an interest, they are going to try and nick me for something!

To avoid confrontation, I plan to continue my clandestine approach, although I can't think of a good reason why?

 

[Scottyf]

I think as long as your riding sensibly I don't think they have any reason to.
But if your hooning about and generally causing a bit of a disturbance they have reason to stop you.

Stay Safe!

 

[bode]

Many decades ago I was stopped by the police when doing 45 mph in the middle of the night on Barnes Common. When they told me they thought I was exceeding the limit, I looked down scornfully at my Honda C50 and said, "On this???"
"Good point," said the cop, and let me go. I felt very disloyal to my trusty steed.

On another occasion at a similar time on the same common, I was pulled over by a different policeman after emerging onto the main road from a short-cut via a footpath (God, I was a tearaway in my younger days!). "Did you just come out of that footpath?" he asked.
I admitted it, thinking I was in trouble, but he just wanted to check that he wasn't seeing things, because one second the road was deserted, and the next there was a motorcyclist in front of him (I guess he wasn't as fully alert at that hour as he might have been).

 

[muckymits]

Many decades ago I was stopped by the police when doing 45 mph in the middle of the night on Barnes Common. When they told me they thought I was exceeding the limit, I looked down scornfully at my Honda C50 and said, "On this???"
"Good point," said the cop, and let me go. I felt very disloyal to my trusty steed.

On another occasion at a similar time on the same common, I was pulled over by a different policeman after emerging onto the main road from a short-cut via a footpath (God, I was a tearaway in my younger days!). "Did you just come out of that footpath?" he asked.
I admitted it, thinking I was in trouble, but he just wanted to check that he wasn't seeing things, because one second the road was deserted, and the next there was a motorcyclist in front of him (I guess he wasn't as fully alert at that hour as he might have been).

I too used to have one of these and managed 53 mph down Ferryhill cut, had to press my chin in to the speedo to reach this. Unfortunately my mother was passing the other way and told my dad (loblocked). This was late 70s, what was R reg?

 

[flecc]

The R suffix registration year was 1976, the year of the record long hot summer.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I too used to have one of these and managed 53 mph down Ferryhill cut, had to press my chin in to the speedo to reach this. Unfortunately my mother was passing the other way and told my dad (loblocked). This was late 70s, what was R reg?

You obviously never realised then that you could use the barrel and piston off a C70 and the carburetor of the 5 speed SS50 for a genuine 60mph sitting upright.

 

[Willin']

I too used to have one of these and managed 53 mph down Ferryhill cut, had to press my chin in to the speedo to reach this. Unfortunately my mother was passing the other way and told my dad (loblocked). This was late 70s, what was R reg?

I was a pupil at the Junior School that abuts Ferryhill cut. When a footy went over the wall it was either a mile north or a mile south to fetch it back.

 

[bode]

This was late 70s

Mine was late 60s. I next graduated to a C90, which not only went much faster, but (deep joy) could be taken on the motorway!

 

[Cyclezee]

Back in 68, my first road bike was a Suzuki 80 Sport as shown below.
I can't honestly remember how fast it went, but it was faster than the Lambrettas and BSA Bantams my friends owned at the time and much more reliable.
I thought it was the dogs dangalies back then.
Bought secondhand in immacualte condition and I remember handing over £40 for it.

 

[muckymits]

I was a pupil at the Junior School that abuts Ferryhill cut. When a footy went over the wall it was either a mile north or a mile south to fetch it back.

You still around here now? I am over Trimdon.


The bike was under warranty so no chance of mods, passed driving test soon after so it was sold for a Austin 1100. Not as fast as the Honda

 

[Willin']

You still around here now? I am over Trimdon.

Nah - moved nearer to Newcastle over 40 years ago though I worked in Durham City prior to retiring. Mother still lives in Ferryhill though so I pop down to see her regularly.

 

[Synthman]

Back in 68, my first road bike was a Suzuki 80 Sport as shown below.
I can't honestly remember how fast it went, but it was faster than the Lambrettas and BSA Bantams my friends owned at the time and much more reliable.
I thought it was the dogs dangalies back then.
Bought secondhand in immacualte condition and I remember handing over £40 for it.

View attachment 3109

Looks like a hub motor on the front wheel!

 

[Scottyf]

Looks like a hub motor on the front wheel!

I had a motorbike with drum brakes. A Yamaha RXS100cc.

It was the most feared bike I've ridden. Least with the faster superbikes they stop. The RXS did not want to stop. Ever. Scared the pants off me.