These facts we all know. Yet that in itself does not constitute proof of having sped. The biggest hole is that, until you have been caught speeding, there must be a presumption of innocence. Which wasn't observed in this incident.

 

 

 

There's a big hole in that too.

Actually you have missed another point, the law states that e-bikes may not be capable of exceeding 15.5 MPH with motor assistance.

Many of them can be pedaled faster than that, but the motor assistance must have stopped/cut out.

The ONLY quick way to prove whether the bike can exceed the maximum allowed speed, is to get on and ride it.....

Naturally, if it exceeds that speed, then it will probably be confiscated and tested accurately....

Remember, if you are only exceeding this legal speed by a small amount, there will not be a problem, but even to the dumbest "Plod", 20 MPH or more will be blindingly obvious, and there are people here who have bikes that they claim exceed 30 MPH!!

I don't understand your attitude to this, it's not a crime, it's a minor regulatory matter that isn't going to harm anyone. There's nothing an e-bike can do to anyone that an unpowered bike can't also do, so why the harsh attitude? Wanting confiscation and all the rigmarole that follows, including unnecessary private and public costs, instead of informally clearing it. After all, it he did find anything, it would still be confiscated and the law complied with.

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I don't have a harsh attitude Flecc. I'm simply discussing what occurred and the assumptions of prejudice surrounding that incident.

 

It happened exactly as you have said. However, normalising those actions with a 'nothing to hide' attitude is tantamount to infringing on us all being stopped on our ebikes for a speed check. I don't see them checking racing bikes that do 40 plus mph. I'd rather lose my ebike for a while than lose my liberty.

Lol, lose your liberty that is a bit over dramatic, paranoia must be setting in......

Lol, lose your liberty that is a bit over dramatic, paranoia must be setting in......

 

Why would I be paranoid? All my bikes are perfectly legal. But I won't be letting the police ride it just to confirm that.

It happened exactly as you have said. However, normalising those actions with a 'nothing to hide' attitude is tantamount to infringing on us all being stopped on our ebikes for a speed check. I don't see them checking racing bikes that do 40 plus mph. I'd rather lose my ebike for a while than lose my liberty.

 

That's really OTT, you would not be losing your liberty, even with confiscation, being free to go wherever and whenever you wanted, even on another e-bike. You're maintaining that it's better to lose your bike for several days or even weeks, rather than for two or minutes. That is just weird.

 

As said, many of the police are well aware of e-bikes and well aware that many are made illegal. This officer saw an obvious sign of a kit bike and gave it a quick check, hardly an inconvenience.

 

They don't check racing bikes since they have no fixed speed limits, they are naturally safety limited by the rider's fitness to perform, as I've discussed a few times before.

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I love that this thread is still going after four pages already

 

I was making polite conversation with a Police Officer at Eastbourne Airbourne last year. Was quite disappointed when he declined the offer of having a go on it.

 

Gaz

That's really OTT, you would not be losing your liberty, even with confiscation, being free to go wherever and whenever you wanted, even on another e-bike. You're maintaining that it's better to lose your bike for several days or even weeks, rather than for two or minutes. That is just weird.

 

As said, many of the police are well aware of e-bikes and well aware that many are made illegal. This officer saw an obvious sign of a kit bike and gave it a quick check, hardly an inconvenience.

 

They don't check racing bikes since they have no fixed speed limits, they are naturally safety limited by the rider's fitness to perform, as I've discussed a few times before.

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'Weird', as with opinions are subjective viewpoints.

 

I have 3 ebikes. Losing one for a while won't hurt me. Not until I'm harassed for the second and definitely the third to be taken away and checked by Gawd knows who by doing Gawd knows what. Probably, I suspect, just more joyrides.

 

Racing bikes. Safely limited by the rider's ability to pedal fast. lol!

Racing bikes. Safely limited by the rider's ability to pedal fast. lol!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTDeKnApLGA

However, normalising those actions with a 'nothing to hide' attitude is tantamount to infringing on us all being stopped on our ebikes for a speed check. I don't see them checking racing bikes that do 40 plus mph. I'd rather lose my ebike for a while than lose my liberty.

How do you suggest the police detect illegal ebikes?

How do you suggest the police detect illegal ebikes?

 

Wait until they break the speed limit.

Wait until they break the speed limit.

 

Erm - what limit? 15.5mph - how can you tell it's assisting over that limit exactly and isn't just under pedal power alone?

 

By the sound of it this was a self-built/modified bike and may actually be illegal (as the FB user stated he had 'set his speed dial to 15.5mph' which implies he can set it higher if he likes).

 

And I suspect the conversation may have been along the lines of 'Do you mind if I ride it sir to check it's not assisting above 15.5mph? If not I can take it in for proper assessment if you prefer." - so the FB user will have given his permission. It's not likely PC Plod jumped on it and just cycled off is it?

Racing bikes. Safely limited by the rider's ability to pedal fast. lol!

 

I posted safety limited, not safely limited. The words used do have importance.

 

You know say they say about sarcasm. There's far more about this subject than the superficial, it needs thought.

 

The reason we have pedelec restriction on assist speed and power is because almost anyone can get on and ride to the machine's full potential. They can have seriously defective eyesight, terribly slow reactions, be subject to blackouts, be deaf, absent minded and anything else you care to think of.

 

However, with unpowered cycling there is a very real link between fitness and safety at all levels for all cyclists.

 

The twenty something keen club road bike rider for example has to be very fit to keep up with or compete with the group in all terrains. It follows that at that age and general health level they are the most likely to have good reactions, eyesight, hearing, alertness etc.

 

As age advances and/or injuries or health problems occur, a decline in those facilities sets in and there's less ability to compete, to ride very fast or ride for as long.

 

It follows that unpowered cycling is largely self policing by individual ability. Those who can't do, don't do. That is not a joke as you seem to have thought, it's a simple medical fact of life, and it applies to race bike riders too. Competitions are irrelevant, risks are taken then by choice of course,

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Edited February 2, 20206 yr by flecc

Wait until they break the speed limit.

 

And what about the voltage limit? And the power limit?

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Edited February 2, 20206 yr by flecc

And what about the voltage limit? And the power limit?

.

 

Was he testing those as well then? Yes, the words used do have importance. So, as you seem to have thought that I had a harsh attitude and you seemed to think that I thought it was a joke. Let me say that I thought neither.

 

Once more, I'm simply discussing what appeared to have occurred and giving my unqualified opinion.

Wait until they break the speed limit.

That's complete nonsense, you are joking right?

 

Let me explain using a road with a 30mph speed limit for cars as an example:

 

5mph - illegal on an ebike whose motor can provide assistance above 15.5mph, legal on other ebikes and pedal bikes.

 

20mph - illegal on an ebike whose motor can provide assistance above 15.5mph, legal on other ebikes and pedal bikes.

 

35mph - illegal on an ebike whose motor can provide assistance above 15.5mph, legal on other ebikes and pedal bikes.

 

So, the road speed limit is totally irrelevant to this discussion.

 

I ask again, how do you suggest the police detect illegal ebikes? ? ?

Was he testing those as well then?

 

Yes, they are supposed to be tested by a visual check. Here's what the law says about how a legal pedelec is marked:

 

“(a) it is—

 

(i) fitted with a plate securely fixed in a conspicuous and readily accessible position showing— (a) the name of the manufacturer of the vehicle, (b) the nominal voltage of the battery (as defined in the 1971 British Standard) of the vehicle, and © the continuous rated output (as defined in the 1971 British Standard) of the motor of the vehicle;

 

or (This second case applies to some very old machines now)

 

(ii) visibly and durably marked with— (a) the name of the manufacturer of the vehicle, (b) the maximum speed at which the motor can propel the vehicle specified in miles per hour or kilometres per hour, and © the maximum continuous rated power (as defined in the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983)(d) of the motor of the vehicle specified in watts or kilowatts;”

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Edited February 2, 20206 yr by flecc

you seemed to think that I thought it was a joke. Let me say that I thought neither.

 

Of course you thought it was a joke, this what you posted:

 

Racing bikes. Safely limited by the rider's ability to pedal fast. lol!

.

That's complete nonsense, you are joking right?

 

Let me explain using a road with a 30mph speed limit for cars as an example:

 

5mph - illegal on an ebike whose motor can provide assistance above 15.5mph, legal on other ebikes and pedal bikes.

 

20mph - illegal on an ebike whose motor can provide assistance above 15.5mph, legal on other ebikes and pedal bikes.

 

35mph - illegal on an ebike whose motor can provide assistance above 15.5mph, legal on other ebikes and pedal bikes.

 

So, the road speed limit is totally irrelevant to this discussion.

 

I ask again, how do you suggest the police detect illegal ebikes? ? ?

 

I do understand all that. But yet again I'll give you the same answer. It may not be the answer that you want. Or even the answer that I want to give, however, it represents the bigger picture. The freedom of legal ebikers against police harassment and any abuse of power to demand free rides.

Of course you thought it was a joke, this what you posted:

 

Racing bikes. Safely limited by the rider's ability to pedal fast. lol!

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That's a lawyers dodge! You're always twisting my words to suit your agenda.

I do understand all that. But yet again I'll give you the same answer. It may not be the answer that you want. Or even the answer that I want to give, however, it represents the bigger picture. The freedom of legal ebikers against police harassment and any abuse of power to demand free rides.

I'm not asking how the police shouldn't enforce the law, I'm asking how they should enforce the law....

just buy a horse it can go anywhere be parked anywhere free of charge and it can take a 3kg shite right in the middle of the road.

I'm not asking how the police shouldn't enforce the law, I'm asking how they should enforce the law....

 

What are you asking me for? I'm retired from policing. Things change over time.

 

Perhaps they should ride everyone's ebikes until they find one that goes too fast. Or perhaps they should follow one, as in this case where the guy didn't speed at all, and then pull him over as though he had committed an offence. Only to find that none was being committed.

 

Or maybe they could just look at their speedometer, see that no speed restrictions were being abused and let the guy go about his day.

What are you asking me for? I'm retired from policing. Things change over time.

 

Perhaps they should ride everyone's ebikes until they find one that goes too fast. Or perhaps they should follow one, as in this case where the guy didn't speed at all, and then pull him over as though he had committed an offence. Only to find that none was being committed.

 

Or maybe they could just look at their speedometer, see that no speed restrictions were being abused and let the guy go about his day.

 

All complete nonsense. As I thought, you don't have any serious suggestions.

Thank god you are retired from policing because you are talking absolute nonsense.

Thank god you are retired from policing because you are talking absolute nonsense.

 

If my dog couldn't catch an ebike, then it was going too fast.

 

Opinions differ. You're not required to like or agree with them all.