I've seen people cycling with a dog at the side on a short lead, I'm be concerned that a dog might get distracted, want to chase off after another animal or something, and run into a cycle wheel. It wouldn't do the dog, the cycle or the cyclist much good especially if a car was overtaking at the time....

Out of curiosity, would there be a reason for you flatly refusing a Police Officer to test ride your bike in his search for illegalities and irregularities? Not that you need a reason to be non-compliant.

 

Just because he/she doesn't have the power/right to demand it.

 

I assist/comply whenever I feel the request/demand is reasonable.

 

 

 

 

I've seen people cycling with a dog at the side on a short lead, I'm be concerned that a dog might get distracted, want to chase off after another animal or something, and run into a cycle wheel. It wouldn't do the dog, the cycle or the cyclist much good especially if a car was overtaking at the time....

 

The 'walkydog' is a metal bar attached to the seat tube. I had an elastic lead, with a small amount of stretch, on the end of the bar. Only used for short distances and at a speed that the dog is 'trotting'.

 

My dogs are trained to be off the lead nearly all of the time and ignore other dogs, cats, etc when commanded to do so. It takes hundreds of hours and a bucket full of treats to achieve.

I understand that if police inspected a bike and found that it was derestricted it would be illegal but as there are no speed restrictions for a bike on the road under what grounds would they be able to stop you, let alone come to your house with a report of speeding?

I’ve followed cycle groups in the Peak District doing 40 - 45 mph. I wonder if the police were waiting at their homes.

I understand that if police inspected a bike and found that it was derestricted it would be illegal but as there are no speed restrictions for a bike on the road under what grounds would they be able to stop you, let alone come to your house with a report of speeding?

I’ve followed cycle groups in the Peak District doing 40 - 45 mph. I wonder if the police were waiting at their homes.

Perhaps a reasonable suspicion that you were riding a bike whose motor was capable of providing assistance above 15.5mph?

They could assess the effort you appear to be putting in vs speed, your physical condition (weight and age maybe), appearance (wearing lycra vs jeans maybe?) etc etc for clues.

A fat old bloke wearing jeans and a waterproof jacket travelling at 40 mph on a bulky bike with suspension, a wide saddle and wide tyres would be suspicious for example :)

Your actual speed is irrelevant, it could be 2mph, 10mph, 20mph....

Perhaps a reasonable suspicion that you were riding a bike whose motor was capable of providing assistance above 15.5mph?

They could assess the effort you appear to be putting in vs speed, your physical condition (weight and age maybe), appearance (wearing lycra vs jeans maybe?) etc etc for clues.

A fat old bloke wearing jeans and a waterproof jacket travelling at 40 mph on a bulky bike with suspension, a wide saddle and wide tyres would be suspicious for example :)

Your actual speed is irrelevant, it could be 2mph, 10mph, 20mph....

 

You sure you’re not a copper or ex copper?

They could assess the effort you appear to be putting in vs speed, your physical condition (weight and age maybe), appearance (wearing lycra vs jeans maybe?) etc etc for clues.

I reckon a lot of officers now own e-bikes themselves, they can look at the usual place for a dongle if you have a CD bike or the size/diameter of your motor...

You sure you’re not a copper or ex copper?

I'm not but why on Earth is that relevant?

 

A fat old bloke wearing jeans and a waterproof jacket travelling at 40 mph on a bulky bike with suspension, a wide saddle and wide tyres would be suspicious for example :)

 

Wouldn't that be discrimination on the grounds of size and dress?

Wouldn't that be discrimination on the grounds of size and dress?

 

Whilst I am old, a bit fat and ride a bulky bike I can “just” hit 40mph on the flat and my motor has stopped helping me a long time before I get there......

 

And I would say nope you can’t ride it. I’ve never yet met a difficult bobby and have confidence in my ability to satisfy the request without it being necessary to hand over the bike.

 

After a while he or she would realise the fishing trip wasn’t going to be productive and they would move on. All a load of nonsense......

This topic's been an interesting debate, touching on the current practice of policing by consent. Some criminals rely on our publicly spirited goodwill to steal from us, and sometimes they rely on some folks naivety and compliance too. Others rely on that same goodwill, naivety and compliance to prove suspected, alleged wrongdoing. The voting outcome is enlightening.

 

I've let strangers ride my perfectly legal ebike at the park. It was 4 years back, according to the date on the video. At the time, it never even occurred to me that they might ride off with it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i-I0f0gObs

I've let strangers ride my perfectly legal ebike at the park.

 

Me too, and on the roads. One of a hard looking group of teenagers hanging around a supermarket, having seen my e-bike in the rack asked to ride it with the air that he expected me to say no.

 

I said "yes of course", at which one of the others said to him, "You jammy git!"

 

I showed him the controls, but before he rode off he insisted on giving me his expensive smartphone, trust in response to trust.

 

In fact I gave all three a turn on the bike while chatting with the others.

 

It failed to convert them to e-bikes though, since about a year later when cycling nearby, a trio of noisy mopeds slowed alongside me, one tipped open his helmet and it was the same three greeting me, so at least it had made friends.

.

This topic's been an interesting debate, touching on the current practice of policing by consent. Some criminals rely on our publicly spirited goodwill to steal from us, and sometimes they rely on some folks naivety and compliance too. Others rely on that same goodwill, naivety and compliance to prove suspected, alleged wrongdoing. The voting outcome is enlightening.

 

I've let strangers ride my perfectly legal ebike at the park. It was 4 years back, according to the date on the video. At the time, it never even occurred to me that they might ride off with it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i-I0f0gObs

 

 

I agree ping.

The problem is one wishes to be civil but the more civil and nice we are the more oppressive the police tend to be.

I agree ping.

The problem is one wishes to be civil but the more civil and nice we are the more oppressive the police tend to be.

How would you react if approached by the police.

Depending on how much being messed around by the police I would decide whether to comply.

 

A). Don’t comply the police can confiscate your bike and the time taken for them to test it and find it’s not illegal. Inform you of the outcome for you to arrange to pick it up sometime.

 

B). Just let him ride it, realise it isn’t and you can go on your way.

before he rode off he insisted on giving me his expensive smartphone, trust in response to trust.

 

Did you check his phone for criminal paraphernalia?

How would you react if approached by the police.

Depending on how much being messed around by the police I would decide whether to comply.

 

A). Don’t comply the police can confiscate your bike and the time taken for them to test it and find it’s not illegal. Inform you of the outcome for you to arrange to pick it up sometime.

 

B). Just let him ride it, realise it isn’t and you can go on your way.

 

If you didn't let them prove that it was illegal by allowing them to ride your bike, then what would their reasonable suspicion, to confiscate / impound, be based on?

then what would their reasonable suspicion, to confiscate / impound, be based on?

250W label?

A factory built e-bike must have EN15194 sticker with the name of the manufacturer. A kit must have 250W label on the motor.

250W label?

A factory built e-bike must have EN15194 sticker with the name of the manufacturer. A kit must have 250W label on the motor.

 

Can it have that.. and a dongle?

"Well, your honour, I was in the fast lane on the motorway overtaking some cars when I heard a siren coming from the car behind which also had some flashing blue lights.

Realising that this could be a hoax and they'd stop me to steal my car I refused to stop and carried on regardless.

I've read about these police imposters on the internet."

 

And what do expect the verdict would be eh?

"Well, your honour, I was in the fast lane on the motorway overtaking some cars when I heard a siren coming from the car behind which also had some flashing blue lights.

Realising that this could be a hoax and they'd stop me to steal my car I refused to stop and carried on regardless.

I've read about these police imposters on the internet."

 

And what do expect the verdict would be eh?

 

Yes, in that situation, guilty is likely of course. Having said that, it has happened as someone mentioned earlier. Where police stopped a car and then drove off with it, leaving the driver at the side of the road.

 

However, we're not talking about making off from the police, which would be relatively easy to do on a bike. We're talking about complying with the police stop and why anyone would let them test ride their bike in a bid to find evidence, which may be used against them.

 

So, if you didn't let them prove that a bike was illegal by allowing them to ride your bike, then what would their reasonable suspicion, to confiscate / impound, be based on?

So, if you didn't let them prove that a bike was illegal by allowing them to ride your bike, then what would their reasonable suspicion, to confiscate / impound, be based on?

250W/25kph label is missing if it's a kit.

if it's a factory made bike, the presence of a dongle.

250W/25kph label is missing if it's a kit.

 

If it's a legal kit, without a 250W/25kph sticker, does that make it illegal then?

 

 

if it's a factory made bike, the presence of a dongle.

 

Are dongles easily removed?

Some dongles are and takes a swift few seconds, whilst you check the bike for a puncture or brake issue.

If it's a legal kit, without a 250W/25kph sticker, does that make it illegal then?

 

In all probability, an officer wouldn't have cause to stop you if you didn't ride well over 15mph, especially not pedalling.

If you get pulled in, I think you need to be able to point out something that supports your assertion that it's a 250W motor and demonstrate that the speed is limited to 15mph.

For example, ask the officer to help you lift up the motorwheel so you can demonstrate the speed limit.

 

Are dongles easily removed?

no and it's still obvious if you try to remove something after you stop the bike.

 

It's pretty obvious to many of us to spot an illegal e-bike, so why not a police officer?