It varies according to where, but primarily trying to encourage any form of cycling came first, e-bikes just tacking on so allowed to be just considered just bikes, subject to some restrictions.What was the reason for the concession to allow ebikes to operate without bureaucracy?
was it to encourage cycle usage?
I disagree to some extent, since there is a direct connection between the rider input and therefore control in unpowered cycling. That isn't always true under all conditions with assisted cycling.But on occasion I'm still able to cycle at approaching 20mph anyway under leg-power alone. As I keep pointing out the 15.5mph assistance cut off has nothing to do with maximum speed. Are you calling for a general speed limit for all cyclists? That would seem to be the logical outcome of many of these posts.
I hardly think cycling 'crept up' on the authorities! Took them a long time to wake up too - it wasn't until the 1940s that we had massed start road racing.I disagree to some extent, since there is a direct connection between the rider input and therefore control in unpowered cycling. That isn't always true under all conditions with assisted cycling.
If cycling was being invented now there probably would be a speed limit, indeed there is in places even in Britain. However cycling crept up on the authorities and before they'd woken up we had cycle road racing and bikes flying down hills at whatever speed they could reach. Added to that such a law is unenforceable, they've decided to leave that form of suicide legal.
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How would you implement that? Cycling tests for everyone? It would be a barrier to cycling. Much more sensible would be restrict all e-bikes when manufactured and then have some kind of higher bar that those who wanted the superior performance of an unrestricted machine could meet. Why should I be penalised because you want assistance above 15mph?- shouldn't we therefore restrict the older, heavier cyclist on a non-assisted bike? Or impose a speed limit on heavily loaded touring bikes? I'm 60kg, I'm fitter than most my age, why should I be penalised?
I'm not suggesting you should - just trying to reply to the earlier post referring to 'older heavier riders'How would you implement that? Cycling tests for everyone? It would be a barrier to cycling. Much more sensible would be restrict all e-bikes when manufactured and then have some kind of higher bar that those who wanted the superior performance of an unrestricted machine could meet. Why should I be penalised because you want assistance above 15mph?
Stop digging mate, they don't want to understand your point of view. I think it's a game.I'm not suggesting you should - just trying to reply to the earlier post referring to 'older heavier riders'
Cycling doesn't only happen in Britain! Indeed it hardly happens at all here compared with some other countries. Road racing was happening long before the 1940s, the Tour de France in 1903 for example, and the the 1930s UCI ban on recumbents in races.I hardly think cycling 'crept up' on the authorities! Took them a long time to wake up too - it wasn't until the 1940s that we had massed start road racing.
see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_League_of_Racing_Cyclists
Are you sure that's wise posting your mug & set up on a public forum ...
Yes many do, theres a lot of them in road bike style and down around 14 to 16 kilos in some cases. The first were appearing nearly a decade ago.Yes S-pedelecs don't have dropped handlebars
nope it is long gone anyway it moves aboutAre you sure that's wise posting your mug & set up on a public forum ...
I hope it doesn't move about faster than 15.5mph!nope it is long gone anyway it moves about
I know that - I should have said 'it wasn't until the 1940s that we had massed start road racing in the UK'. You could of course argue that in recent years GB track and road riders have been more successful and better known by the general public than they ever have been.Cycling doesn't only happen in Britain! Indeed it hardly happens at all here compared with some other countries. Road racing was happening long before the 1940s, the Tour de France in 1903 for example, and the the 1930s UCI ban on recumbents in races.
Britain has long been backwards in cycling, the ban on road racing you mention being but one example. The collapse in cycling in the 1960s and '70s and the way it's never properly recovered since being others.
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View attachment 32385Yes many do, theres a lot of them in road bike style and down around 14 to 16 kilos in some cases. The first were appearing nearly a decade ago.
Information link
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So if we agree that assisted bicycles encourage more cycling, do we also agree that Environmental considerations are higher now, than in the 1980s - Air pollution caused by the massive increase in car usage, congestion etc.It varies according to where, but primarily trying to encourage any form of cycling came first, e-bikes just tacking on so allowed to be just considered just bikes, subject to some restrictions.
Speed of a pedelec is still way above average city traffic speedsSo if we agree that assisted bicycles encourage more cycling, do we also agree that Environmental considerations are higher now, than in the 1980s - Air pollution caused by the massive increase in car usage, congestion etc.
Also that with the spreading on the 20mph limit for urban areas it makes sense to consider altering the assist limit so that its the same as the urban speed limit - purely to encourage as many car drivers to switch, as its the same top speed, but total urban journey time likely to be shorter (cycle lanes etc), daily moderate exercise to fight the obesity crisis, reduced costs for the journey, reduced wear & tear on roads, reduced total energy production required (how many hundred ebikes can be powered by one Tesla?) etc