Riding illegal bikes can lead to being charged with driving offences.

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
20,126
8,226
60
West Sx RH
The facts seem to be that the judiciary and law system have deemed the bike illegal and HE is in violation of motoring offences so the bike is not classed as a bicycle/pedelecs but an over powered one (moped class) capable of well above the legal cut off.
I can't see that he is being done for cycling offences like furious riding but for riding an uninsured moped and offences relating to that, following the death in which HE collided at speed with a pedestrian.
 
Last edited:

Wander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 8, 2013
586
429

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,803
30,376
When there were road tax discs mopeds & motorcycles were oddly taxed under the 'bicycle' class (some historic relic like an appendix?!?!) IIRC it was also the same on the V5.

Under Road Tax up until 1935 and then that class transferred to VED discs, historic as you say.

A bit like the now incorrect usage of Moped, which originally referred to autocycles which had a petrol engine and pedals, i.e. motor and pedals.

Also back in the 1920s we had cyclecars which were some very light cars with bicycle like wheels and small engines, but no pedals of course. Photos link

And to complete the misnaming, the very first motor vehicle law ever, the Highways Act 1835, refers to all road vehicles with any sort of motor as Locomotives. It's still in force and it includes our pedelecs. Had you realised that you are pedaling a locomotive in law? :)
.
 

Amoto65

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 2, 2017
807
502
61
Cheshire
Pretty sure that is not true, if you look at fleccs previous post an ebike is classed as a vehicle according to the 1835 highways act.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: ebiker99

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,803
30,376
Pretty sure that is not true, if you look at fleccs previous post an ebike is classed as a vehicle according to the 1835 highways act.
That's only in respect of the permission to be on the road which has to be specific for each class of any powered vehicles.

Our specific permission also specifies that a legal pedelec is classed as a bicycle in road usage law.

So the motor vehicle law regarding failure to stop might not apply, but certainly some other laws could in the instance of a person being killed.

The exact interpretation in each case can be tricky. For example, road traffic act speed limits don't apply to bicycles or legal pedelecs, but the lower age limit of 14 to ride a pedelec is only in a road traffic act, the 1988 RTA.

It's often necessary to know each provision in fine detail.
.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: Amoto65

Andy McNish

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 28, 2018
303
203
Like I always point out to the dongle kiddies, the risk of being stopped and checked is minimal unless and until you hit someone at which point the book gets thrown at you. Also, ignoring the criminal law for a moment, you won't be covered by any bike insurance you might have so prepare to get sued personally for any injuries you cause.

And the sort of people who use dongles are also the sort of people who ignore red lights and drive at speed on pavements/on cycleways, so are most at risk of hitting pedestrians anyway. Of course they are likely to try to run off after hitting someone too, but that just makes it all the worse when they do get caught.

Assuming he did run a red light, this guy is definitely going down. And a good thing too.

But the annoying thing is that, as we always warned, safe and responsible e cyclists now get tarred with the same brush as these wankers.
 
Last edited:

BazP

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 8, 2017
358
174
74
Sheffield
And the sort of people who use dongles are also the sort of people who ignore red lights and drive at speed on pavements/on cycleways, so are most at risk of hitting pedestrians anyway. Of course they are likely to try to run off after hitting someone too, but that just makes it all the worse when they do get caught.
What a load of rubbish and an arrogant thing to say. Thousands of cyclists use a dongle and you don't have a clue as to their riding ability or style. Wow, what a mindset.
And then you go on to talk about "being tarred with the same brush"
 

Andy McNish

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 28, 2018
303
203
To be fair you can sympathise with the cycle commuters who want a little more speed to keep up with traffic but it's obvious that the sort of people prepared to break the law and unrestrict their bikes are more likely to go through red lights, cycle carelessly and injure people.than those of us who feel more constrained to obey the law. Not all donglers are wankers but it's a far higher % than of those who don't turn their bikes into e mopeds.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: Nealh and Amoto65

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,187
6,319
Agreed, however the majority of the ones seem to revel in the fact they can do 30 mph on a cycle path as demonstrated by certain people on this website.
and not 1 person has been killed yet :D