1-1-2016 Today's Change in the Law.

[Planemo]

I believe the police may lack a statutory power to issue a penalty in respect of whatever offence this is so it would go to the CPS (wouldn't it?)

Being a relatively low level traffic matter the officer would simply report you for summons on the spot for DOWL and/or no insurance and CPS would not be consulted. Given the question over potential insurance issues the officer would then likely sieze the bike for inspection slow time so that all evidence could be presented to court.

I will add that the above scenario happening via a stop check would be so unlikely as to be not be worth a consideration. The real issue (as others have said) would be if serious injury or damage occurs. Even then, a police proscecution may be unlikely but that would not prevent a civil claim being lodged which could effectively ruin the rider. In short, the police are the far lesser concern here IMO.

 

[flecc]

this new law is a step backwards as far as I am concerned.

Certainly is for the UK, but realistically I can't see it ever changing. The fact that the over half billion population of the mainland EU and Japan have been happy with pedelec only through into a third decade now, and that trend spreading into other countries makes the argument for change here unlikely to convince.

As I remarked earlier, no-one is going to enforce this change of the law, it will just become a reality over time just as it's done elsewhere. China is now repeating that process, having introduced the EU type law a couple of years ago to try to eliminate their current 700 watt 20 mph "moped" e-bikes, they are phasing in the enforcement so imperceptably that it's clear that they are leaving it to time to achieve.
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[Cooper]

Sussex police get their bikes from the same dealer I did. In fact, they just took a large shipment of new ones.

Hmm...I wonder if they did that to get grandfathered mounts?

 

[Benjahmin]

If the EU and Japanese population are so happy with no throttles, how come they're so readily available for sale? They can't be just selling to the UK market surely?

 

[mike killay]

My reading is that throttles in themselves are not unlawful as long as the pedals are being turned.
There is no ban on them, simply the requirement that the motor is switched off if the pedals cease to turn.
So, a bike fitted with a simple pedelec magnet ring could be throttle controlled as long as the pedals are pedalled however slowly.

 

[JohnCade]

My reading is that throttles in themselves are not unlawful as long as the pedals are being turned.
There is no ban on them, simply the requirement that the motor is switched off if the pedals cease to turn.
So, a bike fitted with a simple pedelec magnet ring could be throttle controlled as long as the pedals are pedalled however slowly.

But most simple rotation sensor bikes give the full power set on the handlebar control just by turning the pedals without any effort anyway. So if the pedals are to be turned why is a throttle needed? I can see the sense in a throttle for a rotation sensor controlled motor with a pedal lag for hill starts….

 

[Kudoscycles]

The 15 mph throttle is only useful if you wish to power the bike without turning the pedals at all. I once loaded my Kudos Secret bike in such a way that I couldn't turn the pedals so used the throttles like a motorbike to get home. The throttle can be useful in a very narrow access situation,like an offset gate.
KudosDave

 

[trex]

But most simple rotation sensor bikes give the full power set on the handlebar control just by turning the pedals without any effort anyway. So if the pedals are to be turned why is a throttle needed? I can see the sense in a throttle for a rotation sensor controlled motor with a pedal lag for hill starts….

you can modulate the motor power from 0% to 90% quickly, precisely and without lag with a throttle. Can't do that quickly with the up/down assist buttons. It's really mean to take that facility away from those who appreciate it.

 

[shemozzle999]

Sussex police get their bikes from the same dealer I did. In fact, they just took a large shipment of new ones.

Hmm...I wonder if they did that to get grandfathered mounts?

They don't need them as they are exempted from the 168/2013 regulations under:

Article 2

(e)

vehicles designed and constructed for use by the armed services, civil defence, fire services, forces responsible for maintaining public order and emergency medical services;

 

[flecc]

If the EU and Japanese population are so happy with no throttles, how come they're so readily available for sale? They can't be just selling to the UK market surely?

The UK market is inconsequential to China, too small to be worried about, it's the USA that's a major market for China. That's a leisure market where throttles are permitted in all states permitting e-bikes, though many states have other restrictions that we would hate here.

There's no nirvana for e-biking anywhere.
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[anotherkiwi]

My reading is that throttles in themselves are not unlawful as long as the pedals are being turned.
There is no ban on them, simply the requirement that the motor is switched off if the pedals cease to turn.
So, a bike fitted with a simple pedelec magnet ring could be throttle controlled as long as the pedals are pedalled however slowly.

If such was the case in France sites selling them would not have "for off road use only". Start assist throttle up to 6 kph is legal in Germany and Austria as you said "as long as the pedals are turning". From what I have read in Germany start assist is legal up to 20 kph on s-pedelecs. Throttles are illegal in Switzerland even on s-pedelecs http://m-way.ch/fr/produits/e-bike/lgislation.html

My kit has the KT LCD and in advanced settings you can set the number of magnets that need to pass in front of the PAS sensor before power kicks in. Mine came set to 3 which is quite reasonable (1/3 of a rotation), 1 would be dangerous I might try setting it to 2 just to see. Hill start for me is 2nd gear and assistance level 5 and requires the effort of one third of a pedal rotation which I consider to be quite minimal.

The thing that really changed my outlook on hill starts is the Shimano trigger shifter. When I see an obstacle ahead (roundabout, stop sign, red light, traffic jam...) I quickly shift down so am always in the right gear to pull away when the time comes.

 

[flecc]

Throttles are illegal in Switzerland even on s-pedelecs http://m-way.ch/fr/produits/e-bike/lgislation.html

But they can have walk-alongside throttles, but like throughout the EU, only for use when walking. In fact it was the Swiss Biketec company that invented them.

The thing that really changed my outlook on hill starts is the Shimano trigger shifter. When I see an obstacle ahead (roundabout, stop sign, red light, traffic jam...) I quickly shift down so am always in the right gear to pull away when the time comes.

It's for this reason that I use twistgrip gearchangers, even quicker and selecting any gear instantly. I can't be bothered with repeated trigger actuation, whether changing up or down.
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[Lancslass]

I find the gear changing when approaching an obstacle quite problematic although I'm sure I will get used to it.

I have Shimano derailleur 6 speed gears on Juicy Lucy. Say I am approaching lights and they go red about 20 yards out. I have to get down the gears in preparation for setting off, but as I understand things, I am supposed to pedal whilst changing gears. Pedalling operates the motor so the bike's tendency is to speed up whereas I should be braking for the lights (I hope I am doing all this right or Bob of Juicy Bikes will kill me for wrecking his baby!!!)

Getting back to the throttle thing, if I only get down to say 3rd gear, I can set off with the throttle and once the bike reaches speed I am in the correct gear to take up the pedalling. I am otherwise stuck in third gear straining my butt to get going without falling off.

Have I got that right or am I talking through the aforementioned.

 

[anotherkiwi]

No orange before red in the UK (been about 39 years since I drove there)?Here the orange light gives me much more than 20 metres to slow down in time.

If you turn the pedals slowly (VERY slowly) while changing down the bike will not speed up and you can pull ever so slightly on the brake lever at the same time which will cut the motor on your bike I think. I don't have brake cut off so I stop pedalling give a turn and stop, give a turn and stop changing down at each turn and the bike is under perfect control.

 

[flecc]

I find the gear changing when approaching an obstacle quite problematic although I'm sure I will get used to it.

I have Shimano derailleur 6 speed gears on Juicy Lucy. Say I am approaching lights and they go red about 20 yards out. I have to get down the gears in preparation for setting off, but as I understand things, I am supposed to pedal whilst changing gears. Pedalling operates the motor so the bike's tendency is to speed up whereas I should be braking for the lights (I hope I am doing all this right or Bob of Juicy Bikes will kill me for wrecking his baby!!!)

Getting back to the throttle thing, if I only get down to say 3rd gear, I can set off with the throttle and once the bike reaches speed I am in the correct gear to take up the pedalling. I am otherwise stuck in third gear straining my butt to get going without falling off.

Have I got that right or am I talking through the aforementioned.

Don't worry to much about this, as another kiwi says, pedal slowly while changing down on the approach to a stop point and the change will work ok.

One of the latest automatic gear change systems now changes down by itself as the bike comes to a halt, but I can't remember which it is.
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[JuicyBike]

I am supposed to pedal whilst changing gears. Pedalling operates the motor so the bike's tendency is to speed up whereas I should be braking for the lights

As you slow down using the brakes all power is cut to the motor. So pedaling in order to change gear shouldn't be a problem Pauline. I'm sure it will become second nature.

Though brake cut-offs aren't fitted to all electric bikes we think they are a useful feature. We could save some pounds and remove them but I think they serve a purpose even with only a very short overrun on our latest system.

 

[Lancslass]

As you slow down using the brakes all power is cut to the motor. So pedaling in order to change gear shouldn't be a problem Pauline. I'm sure it will become second nature.

Though brake cut-offs aren't fitted to all electric bikes we think they are a useful feature. We could save some pounds and remove them but I think they serve a purpose even with only a very short overrun on our latest system.

I should have worked that out for myself Bob, thanks for reminding me about the useful power cut off. I am finding there is a certain skill to e-riding (one I have yet to fully acquire )

 

[Kudoscycles]

Brake lever power cutoff are a requirement of EN15194...I note that some of my bikes,with EN15194,have a brake cutoff built into only the rear brake line.
KudosDave

 

[Sherman]

There is a snag though, the existing Low Powered Moped class, now becoming class L1e-A could be considered as ideal for that purpose, since it is an e-bike based class and allows 1000 watts, so even more ideal. Of course that means registration and insurance, but that's not a legitimate objection since many other disability vehicles also have to be registered.
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I'm writing this from Finnish point of view, but we are both in EU so it might interest you.

The new law kicked in here too. Before the new law throttles were not allowed and it was max 250W, the usual EU pedelec law. But now L1e-A allows max 1kW, throttles or whatever (no need to pedal), max 25 kph. It does require insurance but not registeration. Also, type approval is not needed for single, "unique" pieces (which means DIY bikes, imports by private person). I'm not sure if no need for registeration or type approval are national exemptions though. I recall seeing a slide somewhere saying registeration will not be required in Finland as an exemption..

At the same time Segways, hover boards etc were legalized

edit typo: type approval is not needed for single, "unique" pieces

 

[trex]

we should copy the Finns ASAP.