E-bikes declared illegal to use on European roads without insurance

[Andrew K]

Article in bikebiz suggests that 3rd party insurance will be compulsory for pedelecs, although not entirely clear to me exactly what level of cover will be needed and indeed whether this will be introduced in the UK.

https://www.bikebiz.com/news/bikes-need-3rd-part-insurance-in-eu

 

[iwchris]

It is a load more unnecessary regulation from that shower in Europe, hopefully will be out of it soon.

 

[mark sutton]

Not entirely the case, it's a proposal and a veto-able one at that, should member states choose. All the policy docs and proposal links in here: https://cyclingindustry.news/european-commission-proposes-legislation-to-outlaw-electric-bike-use-on-europes-roads/

 

[anotherkiwi]

Article in bikebiz suggests that 3rd party insurance will be compulsory for pedelecs, although not entirely clear to me exactly what level of cover will be needed and indeed whether this will be introduced in the UK.

https://www.bikebiz.com/news/bikes-need-3rd-part-insurance-in-eu

No it doesn't say that. It is a project and would have to be adopted into law in every EU country. And it isn't new it keeps popping up from time to time. Maybe the insurance company lobbyists never tire? It doesn't bother me paying insurance.

It is a load more unnecessary regulation from that shower in Europe, hopefully will be out of it soon.

There is a special thread for that kind of comment. And if ever you decide to go on holiday with a pedelec in the place you despise so much you will have to comply if it does become law...

 

[flecc]

As with all usage law it's entirely up to individual countries. The European Commission has no power to enforce this.

The Netherlands will as usual tell them to get stuffed and the UK and most if not all other EU countries will almost certainly do the same.

Why am i so confident? Because without registration and number plates it cannot be enforced. In addition all governments want to encourage cycling as an anti-pollution measure and avoid doing anything that can detract from it.
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[tommie]

Not surprised at all, that`s what you get from foreign faceless bureaucrats with little to do.

European Commission rules e-bike riders need third-party cover

The European Commission has today decided that e-bike riders without third-party liability insurance are riding illegally. The decision – yet to be placed into law – would affect those riding pedal-assist e-bikes, often known as pedelecs i.e. the standard e-bike sold in Europe. However, individual EU states can, if they so choose, exempt e-bikes from the decision.

The proposal is contained as an aside in a press release issued by the Commission regarding the Motor Vehicle Insurance Directive.

“If today's proposal becomes a law, third party liability insurance will be required that would discourage millions of European citizens to use pedelecs, undermine the efforts and investments of several member states and the European Union to promote sustainable mobility,” said Adam Bodor advocacy director of the European Cyclists` Federation.

The Commission has decided that even low-powered e-bikes fall under the Motor Vehicle Insurance Directive.

In an explanatory introduction to the proposal, the European Commission claims that pedal-assisted cycles should already currently have full motor vehicle insurance (not transport, bicycle, personal or household insurance but full motor-vehicle insurance).

 

[anotherkiwi]

Not surprised at all, that`s what you get from foreign faceless bureaucrats with little to do.

European Commission rules e-bike riders need third-party cover

The European Commission has today decided that e-bike riders without third-party liability insurance are riding illegally. The decision – yet to be placed into law – would affect those riding pedal-assist e-bikes, often known as pedelecs i.e. the standard e-bike sold in Europe. However, individual EU states can, if they so choose, exempt e-bikes from the decision.

The proposal is contained as an aside in a press release issued by the Commission regarding the Motor Vehicle Insurance Directive.

“If today's proposal becomes a law, third party liability insurance will be required that would discourage millions of European citizens to use pedelecs, undermine the efforts and investments of several member states and the European Union to promote sustainable mobility,” said Adam Bodor advocacy director of the European Cyclists` Federation.

The Commission has decided that even low-powered e-bikes fall under the Motor Vehicle Insurance Directive.

In an explanatory introduction to the proposal, the European Commission claims that pedal-assisted cycles should already currently have full motor vehicle insurance (not transport, bicycle, personal or household insurance but full motor-vehicle insurance).

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/what-is-the-main-purpose-of-pedelecs.31416/page-2#post-439379

 

[tommie]

Ah-Ha, so you agree with the EU Commission then??!!

Interesting.

 

[flecc]

The Commission has decided that even low-powered e-bikes fall under the Motor Vehicle Insurance Directive.

The Commission is wrong on this point and being devious in referring to e-bikes.

In EU law compliant power assisted bicycles are pedelecs, not e-bikes, specifically excluded from being considered motor vehicles and subject to the EU's EPAC law. (Electric Pedal Assist Cycles).
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[tommie]

The Commission is wrong on this point and being devious in referring to e-bikes.

In EU law compliant power assisted bicycles are pedelecs, not e-bikes, specifically excluded from being considered motor vehicles and subject to the EU's EPAC law. (Electric Pedal Assist Cycles).
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but.. ??

The European Commission has today decided that e-bike riders without third-party liability insurance are riding illegally. The decision – yet to be placed into law – would affect those riding pedal-assist e-bikes, often known as pedelecs i.e. the standard e-bike sold in Europe.

It will be fun and games for the poor souls seeking Third Party cover. Adrian Flux and Bikesure require the bikes Registration number before the Third Party will be valid !!

 

[Gadfly]

You seriously think th UK will veto this move? Not a chance. we will enforce it with every possible measure. Why? Because every insurance premium is taxed, and what do our ruling elite love more than taxes? Think also of the spin-offs; a registration tax, the VAT on the required number plates, and of course protective clothing will be required conveniently omitted from the zero rating applied to industrial PPE.

OK, it may not all happen, but give them an inch ...

 

[flecc]

but.. ??

The European Commission has today decided that e-bike riders without third-party liability insurance are riding illegally. The decision – yet to be placed into law – would affect those riding pedal-assist e-bikes, often known as pedelecs i.e. the standard e-bike sold in Europe.

"Often known as" has no legal validity, it's no more than a comment. Pedelec and e-bike are expressions never used in drafting the laws.

Two things do have legal validity:

The EU's own type approval regulation 168/2013 specifically excludes compliant assisted cycles from being considered motor vehicles.

The EU's own EPAC regulation specifies that compliant assisted machines are cycles.

Both exclude consideration under the motor vehicle insurance directive.

The Commission regularly floats these proposals for which they have no authority to impose, for example compulsory helmets. Member countries just ignore them since only they have the legal authority and will never relinquish that.
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[flecc]

You seriously think th UK will veto this move?

We won't veto it since there isn't any move to veto. It's just the Commission's usual idle chatter for which they have no authority.

Be content it will not happen.
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[tommie]

Figures like these won`t have gone unnoticed by the EU mafia in Brussels, you can be sure the calculators have been brought out,

if it moves - tax it!

German E-Bike Market Sees Record Growth in 2017
Sales & Trends 8647

BERLIN, Germany – The e-bike market in Germany is growing at record pace. The newest 2017 data from industry association ‘Zweirad-Industrie-Verband’ (ZIV) clearly underlines that e-bikes nowadays in Germany are, next to a preferred mode of mobility as well as for leisure and sports, also a clean, quiet and space-saving alternative for city logistics.

E-city bikes are biggest category in Germany scoring 38.5% market share. – Photo Klever
In 2017, 720,000 e-bikes were sold in Germany. With that total sales increased by a big 19%. It makes that currently one in five bikes sold in Germany is an e-bike.

Market share
The e-bike share in total bicycle sales stands currently at 19%. ZIV expects that share to grow further in the next years; in the medium term to 23 – 25%, representing a total sale of close to one million units. ZIV’s long term expectations call for e-bikes to grow to a 35% market share, or a total of 1,350,000 units.

 

[flecc]

Figures like these won`t have gone unnoticed by the EU mafia in Brussels, you can be sure the calculators have been brought out,

if it moves - tax it!

German E-Bike Market Sees Record Growth in 2017
Sales & Trends 8647

BERLIN, Germany – The e-bike market in Germany is growing at record pace. The newest 2017 data from industry association ‘Zweirad-Industrie-Verband’ (ZIV) clearly underlines that e-bikes nowadays in Germany are, next to a preferred mode of mobility as well as for leisure and sports, also a clean, quiet and space-saving alternative for city logistics.

E-city bikes are biggest category in Germany scoring 38.5% market share. – Photo Klever
In 2017, 720,000 e-bikes were sold in Germany. With that total sales increased by a big 19%. It makes that currently one in five bikes sold in Germany is an e-bike.

Market share
The e-bike share in total bicycle sales stands currently at 19%. ZIV expects that share to grow further in the next years; in the medium term to 23 – 25%, representing a total sale of close to one million units. ZIV’s long term expectations call for e-bikes to grow to a 35% market share, or a total of 1,350,000 units.

All the e-bike markets have been growing very rapidly for several years, but no taxation applied. You are just promoting a scare story that has no foundation.

Governments are very keen to grow all cycling markets to help solve pollution problems and increase health and won't do anything to impede that. The EU Commission tried to make cycle helmets compulsory for example and that would have reaped a large VAT return, but all member countries rejected the move since evidence showed it would deter cycling.
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[Gubbins]

Third party insurance.... or puplic liability insurance which I have.. what's the difference?

 

[EddiePJ]

Third party insurance.... or puplic liability insurance which I have.. what's the difference?

I have public liability insurance for my work, and third party liability insurance for private use. The latter being through two different cycling clubs.

So for me, public liability represents business use, and third party liability private use.

 

[Gubbins]

I have public liability insurance for my work, and third party liability insurance for private use. The latter being through two different cycling clubs.

So how are they different fron third party motor insurance as described in the article

 

[EddiePJ]

As Tommie has alluded to, I'm guessing that you would presumably have to hold a valid driving licence and be using a registered vehicle.

I don't belong to British Cycling, but here is a break down of the cover that they offer to members. https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/thirdpartyliability My private third party liability cover, only covers me for use within the two private venues, and not beyond. I really should investigate cover for road use as well.

 

[soundwave]

all this is is another way to tax you for profit!