Accelerator and new law question

[shemozzle999]

First you need to secure independence status for the Island, then declare it a tax haven (after buying up all the available land).

Second build hypermarkets in each port to generate revenue from tax free tobacco sales.

Then you can create your own electric bicycle laws and have your own annual hill climbing race up Union Street in Ryde

 

[flecc]

.....OMG why did we ever venture out of our Neolithic caves when the world is so dangerous

As I posted earlier in this thread, our EU law was quite obviously derived from the Japanese law, and that is explained via a link in this post.

That Japanese law on power levels and control seems ridiculously strict until one knows their cycling circumstances. In many town and city locations there, cyclists by law have to ride on the pavement with pedestrians, so this casts a very different light on the restrictions.

I mention this to show that regulations aren't always as stupid as they might superficially seem.

The problem for us began with the EU following suit, without realising that pedelec only wasn't necessary in their version in the way it was for Japan.

It also has to be said that there is something odd about the UK in this respect, since nowhere in the mainland EU countries has there ever been any of this fuss about not having throttles over their 12 years of pedelec only. And in many of their countries their pedelec use enormously outnumbers ours.
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[anotherkiwi]

Japan does not have much wide open road that is for sure... And that is where the EU lawmakers were short sighted. There are parts of rural France where little old ladies still ride several kilometres to town on market day. OK there were a lot more when I first arrived here I must admit.

The EU took on the rules governing the bikes with out looking out at what European commuters conditions were like compared to Japan. The US was much more sensible in that respect. The ban in NYC is because courriers riding push bikes are already a public menace "imagine them on pedelecs!".

 

[flecc]

The EU took on the rules governing the bikes with out looking out at what European commuters conditions were like compared to Japan.

I don't think this is completely true though. Back in the 1999 to 2003 period when the various laws affecting EU pedelecs were effected, the dominant cycling nation was undoubtedly The Netherlands. The EU Commission would certainly have had them prominently in mind and I'm sure the Dutch were strongly represented in finalising the law, as they still are today. I'm sure you know what their riding conditions are like and the characteristically low speeds they commonly ride at, so there would be little in the EU law to upset them. That's born out by them being happy with the pedelec law, no-one ever complaining about not having throttles in the way UK riders do.

The ban in NYC is because courriers riding push bikes are already a public menace "imagine them on pedelecs!".

True in London too, couriers often being a menace. The police have cramped their style quite a bit in the last couple of years though.
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[brightonebikes]

I don't think this is completely true though. Back in the 1999 to 2003 period when the various laws affecting EU pedelecs were effected, the dominant cycling nation was undoubtedly The Netherlands. The EU Commission would certainly have had them prominently in mind and I'm sure the Dutch were strongly represented in finalising the law, as they still are today. I'm sure you know what their riding conditions are like and the characteristically low speeds they commonly ride at, so their would be little in the EU law to upset them. That's born out by them being happy with the pedelec law, no-one ever complaining about not having throttles in the way UK riders do.



True in London too, couriers often being a menace. The police have cramped their style quite a bit in the last couple of years though.
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It seems many, me included, have at times struggled to interpret the regs correctly, where and when they apply, how they apply, when it changes/changed and so on.
The throttle is not a deal breaker, it just seems to have it place in certain applications. Working with a multi-assist level mid-drive alone is a delight. It's about choice at the end of the day. Whizzing around draining battery and likely heating motor up is not getting the best out it. Most people can manage a reasonable contribution by pedal and rightly so, we all need to keep out 'tickers' ticking.
It nice to have such knowledge, history etc. shared and discussed. Thank you.
Darren

 

[wightrider]

First you need to secure independence status for the Island, then declare it a tax haven (after buying up all the available land).

Second build hypermarkets in each port to generate revenue from tax free tobacco sales.

Then you can create your own electric bicycle laws and have your own annual hill climbing race up Union Street in Ryde

Ye know too much

 

[wightrider]

I don't mind being an "out" "accelerator man"...I think the experience of letting the bike run along (not up hills) whilst you take a breather between bouts of good pedalling is a nice reward and makes you travel further without realising what great exercise you are getting.

 

[brightonebikes]

Beautifully put, and quite agree. In off road situations i find it allows for a different style of technical riding where a short burst of throttle on a narrow or the summit of a very steep section achieves a fluidity of riding I wouldn't otherwise be able to achieve. Down hill rooty sections can be drifted over with a touch of throttle whilst the feet remain balanced on stable pedals and weight shifted backwards.
I just love it personally, the best way to see our wonderful countryside.