OV9

What the hell is going on with these things? Full fairing and doing 30-40 mph yet don’t need licence, registration or safety equipment. I know that they’re illegal on the roads (in theory) but that’s not a solution, because they’re obviously the future of transportation.

It must irritate the hell out of mopeds who have basically the same performance

Gavster wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 2:28 pm What the hell is going on with these things? Full fairing and doing 30-40 mph yet don’t need licence, registration or safety equipment. I know that they’re illegal on the roads (in theory) but that’s not a solution, because they’re obviously the future of transportation.

It must irritate the hell out of mopeds who have basically the same performance

Should be under the same set of rules as the moped are IMO, insurance, RFL and a CBT cert.

Scooters are harder to police but they should at least have a certificated training course and 3rd party insurance too. Minimum age 13/14 maybe with oversight/signature of parent/guardian.

I agree they are the future of local transportation so need some sort of framework to ensure that they are used responsibly.

They do need licence, registration and safety equipment. They're illegal otherwise.

Its a bit like the Wild West just now with these and scooters. And every time I go in to a city, clearly these are the best things to every happen for Deliveroo riders. Now there's a group of easily-identifiable cyclists who refuse to follow any of the rules of the road.

I guess police don't have the manpower to do anything about them and/or don't care.

I am surprised but not surprised by how slow the government has been in this country to embrace them though as they could be a great solution to some of the congestion in cities.

I've not seen a huge amount of the bikes being used, other than the standard limited ones you get from like Halfords. Scooters seem to be way more rampant. I was overtaken by one in a 30 earlier this week, and left for dead. At least the rider had a full motorbike type helmet on, but he was flying.

The Voi rental scooters are around quite a bit, but at least they're limited and you have to validate with your licence to use them. Free for all with non rental ones.

Gavster wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 2:28 pm What the hell is going on with these things? Full fairing and doing 30-40 mph yet don’t need licence, registration or safety equipment. I know that they’re illegal on the roads (in theory) but that’s not a solution, because they’re obviously the future of transportation.

It must irritate the hell out of mopeds who have basically the same performance

I don’t think I’ve seen any of the type you describe, plenty of scooters though. Link to the type you mean?

If you are referring to these type they should be registered, insured, driven with cbt or licence etc



I fancy one for the camper.

Rich B wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:13 pm They do need licence, registration and safety equipment. They're illegal otherwise.

I guess I was assuming they were pedal cycles and not electric motorbikes.

If they were originally sold as an EPAC (under those rules) and then re-programmed or modified which is pretty easy to be honest the rider unless is caught doing 30-40 on the flat they can get away with not having anything at all, does need some sort of control that.

The electric motorbikes though like you say, same rules as mopeds etc.

Electric Dirt Bikes are a bit of a problem on the red ways here. Lots of incidents with dogs and walkers with headphones etc.

Most don’t wear helmets

I think I’ve only ever seen a couple of electric scooters around here so have no idea how big of a problem this is

dinny_g wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 4:41 pm Electric Dirt Bikes are a bit of a problem on the red ways here. Lots of incidents with dogs and walkers with headphones etc.

Most don’t wear helmets

That's the bigger issue here too, they look like beefed up MTB but scoot along at 30mph+ and the riding attire of preference being sweat pants, hoody and trainers.

drcarlos wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 4:24 pm

Rich B wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:13 pm They do need licence, registration and safety equipment. They're illegal otherwise.

I guess I was assuming they were pedal cycles and not electric motorbikes.

If they were originally sold as an EPAC (under those rules) and then re-programmed or modified which is pretty easy to be honest the rider unless is caught doing 30-40 on the flat they can get away with not having anything at all, does need some sort of control that.

The electric motorbikes though like you say, same rules as mopeds etc.

It’s this style - I saw this one parked on a walk today. They’ve got pedals but are used like mopeds. Very popular amongst delivery drivers everywhere across east London.


upload picture online and get url

Aslong as they stay on the road I’ve no issue.

Dave!

A moped with pedals to look like a epac. You'd be in the shit knocking someone down on that.

That's a new one for me lol

Yep, that's an EAPC - electrically assisted pedal cycle. Legally can only be 250w, no throttle and assist up to 25kmph. Same as any other ebike.

If it's breaking any of that then it's not legal.

https://www.electricrider.co.uk/product ... gItaPD_BwE

If your ebike doesn’t meet these regulations – either because the motor is more powerful than 250W, or if it assists you when you’re riding more than 15.5 mph – it will need to be registered, insured and taxed as a motor vehicle. In this case, you will also need a driving licence, and you must wear a motorcycle helmet.

Rich B wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:13 pm They do need licence, registration and safety equipment. They're illegal otherwise.

What Rich said.

It fucks me off that so many illegal electric bikes are out there. You can’t buy a moped or low powered motorbike without registering, taxing and insuring it. Why is it so easy to buy basically the same thing with the IC engine replaced with electric motor and battery?

The issue for us legal e-bikers is that we get tarred with the same brush, and any crackdown at some point will doubtless hit us as well. Preventing us using bridleways or something.

Yeah, I can't go throwing too many stones in my glass house over here...

Jobbo wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 8:18 pm

Rich B wrote: Fri Jul 01, 2022 3:13 pm They do need licence, registration and safety equipment. They're illegal otherwise.

It fucks me off that so many illegal electric bikes are out there. You can’t buy a moped or low powered motorbike without registering, taxing and insuring it. Why is it so easy to buy basically the same thing with the IC engine replaced with electric motor and battery?

This is the point. Around E London the majority of ebike users are delivery riders, and I bet half of them are on illegal bikes. With ICE powered bikes it’s very clear what makes them legal. But police don’t have the resources to constantly check these E bikes. Occasionally they park a lorry in town and fill it up with bikes and scooters, but that’s a drop in the ocean.

It’s probably because it’s way easier to swap out an ebike motor for something more powerful and the motors are electronically limited to 250 watts so people just flash them to a higher output.