Disabled people,why not write to your MP about throttles

[Kudoscycles]

Can I suggest that all disabled people write to their MP to say that the government taking away throttles on pedelecs has seriously affected your cycling. Also pointing out that linking throttles to type approval,without providing it easy for e-bike suppliers to achieve type approval was lack of concern for the disabled.
We also need the name at the Dft ,who is responsible for these decisions,so that we can also make a real nuisance of ourselves in that direction.
KudosDave

 

[hoppy]

Can I suggest that all disabled people write to their MP to say that the government taking away throttles on pedelecs has seriously affected your cycling. Also pointing out that linking throttles to type approval,without providing it easy for e-bike suppliers to achieve type approval was lack of concern for the disabled.
We also need the name at the Dft ,who is responsible for these decisions,so that we can also make a real nuisance of ourselves in that direction.
KudosDave

I've just writtenagain to Claire Perry the minister who made the statement about EAPCs. Her email is claire.perry@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

 

[Kudoscycles]

The government have just updated the document specifically aimed at,quote 'this document sets out the governments view of a society where disabled people can realise their aspirations and fulfill their potential.The document is titled ' fulfilling potential,making it happen'.
You can write to...
Office for disability issues
Ground floor
7-12 Tothill Street
London SW1H 9DA
Email........fulfilling.potential@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

If you want to keep these throttles you are not going to keep them without a fight,the more who write,the more they are likely to do something.
KudosDave

 

[Kudoscycles]

I've just writtenagain to Claire Perry the minister who made the statement about EAPCs. Her email is claire.perry@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

Yep,I picked up her involvement and responsibility.
She is MP for Devizes,didn't that used to be a strong Liberal seat?
Anyone in Devizes who can make direct input into her constituency offices,local press normally supportive of any restriction on the mobility of disabled people trying to stay independent.
The old Liberal candidate usually very interested.
KudosDave

 

[flecc]

the government taking away throttles on pedelecs has seriously affected your cycling.

The trouble is that they haven't done that. We had our old UK law only allowing 200 watts with no mention of throttles or any control method, but of course that made the EU 250 watt bikes we bought illegal. Our fault of course, we shouldn't have bought illegal bikes.

However, with so many 250 watt EU legal bikes on the road, the way out short of scrapping them was to do what the EU required and harmonise as the only way to make the 250 watts legal on a bureaucracy free bike, but doing that doesn't allow throttles.

Under compulsory EU type approval law there is no way an e-bike can have a fully acting throttle and be bureacracy free as a pedelec. The DfT suggested workaround of getting type approval for a throttle pedelec is hardly being bureacracy free of course, and not EU legal anyway.

Those such as the ability impaired who require a throttle controlled e-bike are pointed to the Low Powered Moped class for just such vehicles, soon to be L1e-A.

Since that class exists, I believe no-one, UK or EU, is going to budge on this matter. Probably the only hope is the DfT bringing in an irregular class of type approval and SVA for e-bikes which is unique to the UK.
.

 

[soundwave]

all this government want to do is kill of the disabled with sanctions and bs so on ur bike n give um ****

 

[mike killay]

Written to both.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Those such as the ability impaired who require a throttle controlled e-bike are pointed to the Low Powered Moped class for just such vehicles, soon to be L1e-A.
.

What is wrong with that vehicle class in this case (disabled riders)?

 

[trex]

nothing other than having two certificates of conformity, for the EN15194 and L1eA type approval.

 

[Cyclezee]

Could this be a workaround? http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/triggers-broom.22826/

 

[flecc]

What is wrong with that vehicle class in this case (disabled riders)?

Nothing, it's ideal since it also allows up to a 1000 Watt rating, four times the pedelec rating so ideal for an impaired rider.
.

 

[Kudoscycles]

↑
Hi Dave if you or anyone else would like to email me the name and email addresses of anyone interested I will happily put together a letter.

All the best David (David Miall,ex Chairman BEBA)

No David....we need to know the name of the guy who is responsible for developing the regs such that throttles are linked to type approval and no mechanism has been provided to achieve that type approval.
You can have many meetings in private which appear to achieve nothing,but 100 disabled people writing into this guy,with press involvement will be very effective. Writing with emotion and explaining that this decision has taken away their independence to ride bicycles will achieve so much more.
The government have just updated a paper specifically to support disabled people in their quest for more independence,this decision to delete these throttles is in direct opposition to that paper and directly in contrast to Camerons big society.
Names please who attended the last meeting on this subject?
This subject has been kept too much behind closed doors we need to lobby those involved to get some action to resolve this issue,the industry wants to support disabled people but the government is hindering us to achieve that.
You know that once I get my teeth into an issue I wont leave it alone.
KudosDave

 

[Kudoscycles]

The trouble is that they haven't done that. We had our old UK law only allowing 200 watts with no mention of throttles or any control method, but of course that made the EU 250 watt bikes we bought illegal. Our fault of course, we shouldn't have bought illegal bikes.

However, with so many 250 watt EU legal bikes on the road, the way out short of scrapping them was to do what the EU required and harmonise as the only way to make the 250 watts legal on a bureaucracy free bike, but doing that doesn't allow throttles.

Under compulsory EU type approval law there is no way an e-bike can have a fully acting throttle and be bureacracy free as a pedelec. The DfT suggested workaround of getting type approval for a throttle pedelec is hardly being bureacracy free of course, and not EU legal anyway.

Those such as the ability impaired who require a throttle controlled e-bike are pointed to the Low Powered Moped class for just such vehicles, soon to be L1e-A.

Since that class exists, I believe no-one, UK or EU, is going to budge on this matter. Probably the only hope is the DfT bringing in an irregular class of type approval and SVA for e-bikes which is unique to the UK.
.

Tony....but there is currently no method of achieving type approval in the UK for an EN15194 spec'd Pedelec, so the offer to allow 15 mph throttles with type approval is irrelevant .
Unless I have missed something and I have spent hours trawling through the VOSA classifications there is no way to type approve a Pedelec.
But manufacturers in Germany seem to be able to type approve,why cant we?
KudosDave
.

 

[Kudoscycles]

What is wrong with that vehicle class in this case (disabled riders)?

They are mopeds and as such need tax,insurance,helmet but more importantly they cannot be used as bicycles....on cycle tracks etc.
Why should a disabled person not have access to the same riding locations as an able bodied rider?
KudosDave

 

[flecc]

we need to know the name of the guy who is responsible for developing the regs such that throttles are linked to type approval and no mechanism has been provided to achieve that type approval.

Surely this is not in the hands of the DfT or any of their people Dave?

Extract from Impact Assessment of the EAPC amendment regulation 2015:

1.5 The GB Regulations do not prohibit vehicles from being classed as EAPCs if they have "Twist and Go" capability - i.e. vehicles fitted with a motor which can provide power assistance at any time without the rider pedalling (to the extent that such vehicles still meet the criteria in 1.2). However this type of product is now within the scope of EU Regulation 168/2013 and so will need to be type or individually approved for use on roads.

In other words the DfT have done nothing other than to conform to the EU regulations to permit the de facto 250 watts. That unfortunately collides with the EU's type approval requirements, so the person or people involved are those who created the 2002/24/EC regulation of 9th May 2003 which is included in 168/2013.

The DfT haven't created or removed any measure concerning throttles, since neither they nor the EU have ever had a law mentioning them in connection with power assisted bikes. The DfT either had to stick with the old 200 watt regulations or change by complying with the EU ones. There wasn't a third option.
.

 

[JuicyBike]

There is no single person responsible for taking decisions on these matters.

BEBA and the BA have been and still are involved in lobbying and cajoling and actively trying (still) to make amendments and suggest improvements to what was announced back in March this year. But really, now it's just the fine print we stand any chance of changing.

I'm all up for making the Government see sense on this issue, but this effort was best made some time ago.

I hate to be in any way dismissive of those who want change and applaud any efforts to improve matters, especially for those whose enjoyment of cycling is going to be jeopardised. However, realistically, the stage was set back in March / April 2015 and manufacturers were made well aware of the impending rules.

 

[flecc]

But manufacturers in Germany seem to be able to type approve,why cant we?
KudosDave
.

I don't think the Germans do in this respect, their pedelecs don't have throttles unless in the S class which is not bureaucracy free and has restricted access to facilities.

I think the only way out that might suit us is an easy way to type approve, implemented by the DfT bringing in a non-EU compliant method just for UK pedelecs. The current efforts by the little consortium mentioned earlier are probably our only hope of that.
.

 

[Kudoscycles]

There is no single person responsible for taking decisions on these matters.

BEBA and the BA have been and still are involved in lobbying and cajoling and actively trying (still) to make amendments and suggest improvements to what was announced back in March this year. But really, now it's just the fine print we stand any chance of changing.

I'm all up for making the Government see sense on this issue, but this effort was best made some time ago.

I hate to be in any way dismissive of those who want change and applaud any efforts to improve matters, especially for those whose enjoyment of cycling is going to be jeopardised. However, realistically, the stage was set back in March / April 2015 and manufacturers were made well aware of the impending rules.

Bob
So who are BEBA cajoling,you must have a department contact.
I was aware that to continue to supply 15mph throttles we had to achieve type approval.....do you know the mechanism to type approve a Pedelec?
Surely in all your meetings someone must have pointed out to the DfT that their is no classification to type approve a Pedelec? Are they intending to develop a classification to type approve these bikes?
All reasonable questions,do you agree?
KudosDave

 

[Kudoscycles]

I don't think the Germans do in this respect, their pedelecs don't have throttles unless in the S class which is not bureaucracy free and has restricted access to facilities.

I think the only way out that might suit us is an easy way to type approve, implemented by the DfT bringing in a non-EU compliant method just for UK pedelecs. The current efforts by the little consortium mentioned earlier are probably our only hope of that.
.

I agree that the Germans dont have throttles but they do have type approval for e-bikes. I shouldnt publicise the fact but some switched on German supplier could type approve in Germany then export to the UK and fit a throttle,is that not so?...I suspect that the only reason no German manufacturer has bothered is our market is so small.
The Germans are past masters at developing standards which other countries find it difficult to comply with,to protect their own industries.
The Germans invented S-class which is for Germany and now Switzerland only,to suit themselves.....why cannot we have a T (for throttle) class to suit only the UK??????

 

[oldtom]

someone must have pointed out to the DfT that their is no classification to type approve a Pedelec? Are they intending to develop a classification to type approve these bikes?
All reasonable questions,do you agree?
KudosDave

Isn't there a danger here that if a tiny group of people keeps pestering DfT officials over this throttle issue that it may backfire? I can imagine a hardening of attitude on their part to the point where they refuse to enter into any further dialogue, there being various forms of two-wheeled transport already, some of which are known to provide mobility for those registered disabled who cannot pedal a bicycle.

Tom