Nobody needs a road car that can go that fast and the owner will be trusted to respect the road code. Pedelecs are physically limited, the rider isn't trusted to respect 25 kph cut off on his own. Kind of a double standard was my point.

 

On my very short commute I average 22.7 kph. My top speed is in the low 40s and there are a couple of slopes where I struggle to top 18 kph, 25 kph average I can only dream of...

OK - but pedelecs are only limited in assisted speed, otherwise the only limit is in the rider - just like an unassisted bike, and the rider of both is expected to 'respect the road code', as you say. Even if the assisted limit was raised to 30 kph your commute may not become that much quicker as you already spend some time above that level under leg power alone, and a higher assisted cut off won't help on those 18kph slopes either.

Just found this after doing some Googling around the laws (ie if they'll ever change) This is my take on it

 

Door to door, from my (home) town into the nearest city, it's 1 hour.

 

You spend time walking down, waiting at the station, getting a train there, and walking some more. The actual train journey is just 26 minutes. This is 18 miles away

 

It'd mean that you could in theory get to work in the same time on a bike, without having to use public transport, without costing so much, and without tiring yourself out as much. You don't need to go to the gym after work because you've just spent two hours doing "light exercise" Ideally, it'd mean people wouldn't then drive into work, or even use the trains spreading illnesses when they could arrive on personal pedal assisted power. They're also not so tired after work that they simply don't have the energy to go to the gym either. If they're parents this also means more times with kids

 

Currently my workplace is 13 miles away, so I get there under the hour however this would allow someone to live a train journey away, and still arrive quicker than someone who uses the trains!

I know I may be in a minority on here but I think the 15.5 limit is OK. On flat roads I generally ride at about 17-18 mph but I don't think greater assistance is needed.

 

Probably just me.

Not just you. I too think a 15.5mph limit is absolutely fine & as flecc has pointed out there already is a legal route available for all those who want to ride a faster e-bike.

Not just you. I too think a 15.5mph limit is absolutely fine & as flecc has pointed out there already is a legal route available for all those who want to ride a faster e-bike.

They have to get their CBT first however but yes there is a route. Personally I think that instead of a CBT licence there should be a separate ebike licence given that even on the slightly faster ones they don't exactly perform like a motorbike

They have to get their CBT first however but yes there is a route. Personally I think that instead of a CBT licence there should be a separate ebike licence given that even on the slightly faster ones they don't exactly perform like a motorbike

 

 

There are three driving licence categories relating to moped class e-bikes:

 

Category AM

 

You can drive 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph).

 

This category also includes light quad bikes with:

• unladen mass of not more than 350kg (not including batteries if it’s an electric vehicle)
  
• maximum design speed of over 25km/h (15.5mph) but not more than 45km/h (28mph)
  

 

Category P

 

You can drive 2-wheeled vehicles with a maximum design speed of over 45km/h (28mph) but not more than 50km/h (31mph).

 

Its engine size must not be more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine.

 

 

Category Q

 

You can drive 2-wheeled and 3-wheeled vehicles without pedals with:

• an engine size not more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine
  
• a maximum design speed of no more than 25km/h (15.5mph)
  

With pedal control of power is of course the driving licence exempt pedelec class.

.

And as pretty much anyone who has passed any driving test at all gets these categories most people can legally ride an electric moped (which is the legal definition of a deresicted ebike) so there is no problem here. All anyone has to do is get a registration number and insure it. Oh and keep off trails that aren't BOATs. Absolutely no justification for a change in the law. Maybe there is a need to make it very easy to register and insure deristriced bikes , then those riding them have no excuse for breaking the law.