Bike throttles pedal resistance

[DorsetDave]

It's now September 2014 so hope I can ressurrect this thread as follows.

I have read the FAQ page on the use of a throttle on an ebike and I'm sure it has been covered here before but can't find it.

I might be a bit dumb but it appears to say you can use a throttle in the UK. However when I have enquired about buying a new ebike I'm told they are now illegal. I have had an ebike for nearly 5 yrs now and I bought it with a throttle which I find very useful particularly being in my seventies. For instance I use it to get away from the lights that little bit quicker, or around staggered barriers when riding very slowly, or pushing the bike up steep slopes off road.

Can anyone explain exactly how the current law stands please. Is my bike still legal ? Also if it is still legal then why can't I buy an ebike with a throttle in the UK ? Thanks

 

[JohnCade]

I expect someone like flecc will explain the law soon. But it sounds to me like a shop or salesman is trying it on to get a sale. E bikes are still sold here with throttles and nothing has changed recently.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Independent throttles are not illegal in the UK; however, they are in most of Europe. It's as simple as that. The confusion came when people started selling EU compliant 250w bikes in the UK, but with throttles. Throttles were allowed in the UK, but not the 250w motor. We now have a sort of concession for 250w motors, but no concession is or was needed for the throttle.

 

[mike killay]

It's now September 2014 so hope I can ressurrect this thread as follows.

I have read the FAQ page on the use of a throttle on an ebike and I'm sure it has been covered here before but can't find it.

I might be a bit dumb but it appears to say you can use a throttle in the UK. However when I have enquired about buying a new ebike I'm told they are now illegal. I have had an ebike for nearly 5 yrs now and I bought it with a throttle which I find very useful particularly being in my seventies. For instance I use it to get away from the lights that little bit quicker, or around staggered barriers when riding very slowly, or pushing the bike up steep slopes off road.

Can anyone explain exactly how the current law stands please. Is my bike still legal ? Also if it is still legal then why can't I buy an ebike with a throttle in the UK ? Thanks

Basically they lied.
A local bike shop in Swansea assured me some years ago that there was a local bye-law prohibiting throttles! Of course, they only sold bikes without throttles.