Sunday Times article

lectureral

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 30, 2007
397
60
Suva, Fiji
There's an article in today's Sunday Times about over-fast ebikes being used on the road illegally. Here's a few paragraphs. (I'll be happy to copy the whole article if allowed).

Retailers are selling powerful electric bicycles with motors capable of breaking the regulations limiting their speed.

Commuters have been filmed zipping along busy roads in London on battery-powered bikes that appear to be travelling faster than legal limits.

So-called ebikes have an electric motor that is used to assist the rider’s pedal power. Traffic laws state the motor must cut out at 15.5mph and must have a maximum power of 250 watts.

50Cycles, a retailer with stores in London, Loughborough, Bristol and Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, sells a range of German Kalkhoff “speed ebikes” with 350-watt motors capable of speeds of up to 28mph.

The company’s website makes clear these ebikes, which cost up to £3,595, are classified as mopeds and that they should be registered, taxed and insured before being used on public roads.
 
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jwm

Pedelecer
Feb 11, 2014
139
41
Hampshire
Next we'll find out that motor vehicles are capable of breaking the law and are available freely... my goodness... a fantastic piece of journalism on par with David Walsh's pursuit of Lance Armstrong... The Times continue to set the bar high.
 
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danielrlee

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 27, 2012
1,348
689
Westbury, Wiltshire
torquetech.co.uk
Meh. Tomorrow's chip paper.

If this was ever going to be dealt with, it'd be done so at the source (retailer). IMO, unless individuals ride around like idiots, they won't recieve any trouble.

Martin of 50Cycles might be feeling a little nervous next week though.
 
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LeighPing

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 27, 2016
2,547
1,944
The Red Ditch
It's just another 'no news' day in the capital.

"Commuters have been filmed zipping along busy roads in London on battery-powered bikes that appear to be travelling faster than legal limits."

Faster than what legal limit? Faster than the stuck in crawling traffic limit. Making people think that it's a good way to dodge the congestion charges, the parking and fuel bills. The politics of riding an ebike. Go as fast as you like on any other bike and that's ok.

Good or bad, it's all publicity.
 

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