European regulations, one more time
- Thread starter Arbol
- Start date
conversions aren't really in direct competition with us, so not a massive concern of ours. Although any bikes that are being ridden illegally on the roads do have a direct impact on the image and long term sustainability of the whole concept of eBikes in the UK.
The competition I'm talking about is mainly Kalkoff. They are selling 350w bikes over here that aren't road legal.
http://www.50cycles.com/product/613525400
for instance.
Col.
The competition I'm talking about is mainly Kalkoff. They are selling 350w bikes over here that aren't road legal.
http://www.50cycles.com/product/613525400
for instance.
Col.
fair point, but its not really sour grapes... you asked for an example. That was just the first one that came to mind.
and whilst the text has been updated, it doesn't really change the fact that the bike can't legally be used in the UK.
But this has already been discussed to death.
But I can promise you'll we'll be working hard behind the scenes to make sure this loop hole is closed because its not good for anyone if in 3 years time, all eBikes are made to be taxed and insured because of people not sticking to the current rules.
Col.
and whilst the text has been updated, it doesn't really change the fact that the bike can't legally be used in the UK.
But this has already been discussed to death.
But I can promise you'll we'll be working hard behind the scenes to make sure this loop hole is closed because its not good for anyone if in 3 years time, all eBikes are made to be taxed and insured because of people not sticking to the current rules.
Col.
You guys obviously know what you are taking about, but all this talk about e-bikes becoming popular seems at odds with what I see every day. I go to the post office on my bike every day, I ride on very popular cycling routs and since I have become an interested party I have ridden about 2500 miles and have only seen 2 other electric bikes. Is it the north/south devide at play? (joking) when I stop for a chat with other biclists none have seen anything like mine, and most don't even know they exist.
Definitely not North/South divide, I've yet to see another e-bike acrtually ridden in my South London borough or the surrounding Surrey and Kent area. That's in 11 years of e-biking preceded by unpowered cycling.
The only exceptions have been at shows, once when meeting up with another pedelecs member and seeing one parked and one being pushed along a pavement.
The fact is that with maybe 150,000 spread over all UK roads and most of those only occasionally used, sightings can be rare.
E-bike do seem to be like rocking horse ***t. I have many people ask for an explanation as to how my bike works.
I'd say 95 % have never heard of one. Market potential must be huge, but how can suppliers get the message across?
Massive TV campaign? Anyone got the funds for this?
On the other hand is best for us users to keep it a secret, at least we'll be off the radar.
I'd say 95 % have never heard of one. Market potential must be huge, but how can suppliers get the message across?
Massive TV campaign? Anyone got the funds for this?
On the other hand is best for us users to keep it a secret, at least we'll be off the radar.
I don't think the potential is very large, and it certainly couldn't justify a TV advertising campaign. It's the cycling nations who have made the large e-bike markets, and the UK isn't a cycling nation.
We have more in common with the USA where travel is concerned, like them being a car driving nation. The great majority of UK car drivers will never be persuaded to get on a bicycle of any sort. That's more true now than at any previous time in the last 100 years, simply because so many growing up in the last forty years have been prevented from having a bicycle by parents anxious about traffic. Adults who've never ridden a bike when young are very rarely going to try to learn now.
Flecc
You have point with regards to car usage.
Perhaps I should reword. The % of the UK population that do not cycle is very high. Many rely solely on their cars for transport. If they could in some way be shown the benefits of cycling, then the market potential would increase significantly.
Lets see some footballers using e-bike and regular cycles, that might help.
You have point with regards to car usage.
Perhaps I should reword. The % of the UK population that do not cycle is very high. Many rely solely on their cars for transport. If they could in some way be shown the benefits of cycling, then the market potential would increase significantly.
Lets see some footballers using e-bike and regular cycles, that might help.
In the concentrated area of London we now have hordes of cycle commuters seen at times SRS, but they are still a very small proportion of the population, I don't see propaganda changing that in our culture, the great majority simply don't see bicycles as utility transport.
The general view is that bicycles are for leisure sport, such as lycra clad for club road riding, as off-road mountain bikes to play around on or BMX for stunting,
Cycling for transport is seen by most as dangerous in today's traffic, as impractical in our climate, as tiring and uncomfortable. One can't use a bike to run the kids to school or take them to their activity centres, and many, often most, won't allow their kids to have their own bikes in view of the traffic dangers. Bicycles won't carry husbands, grandparents etc for various purposes such as taking them for a hospital appointment, nor are they practical for longer journeys. A car is ideal for the large weekly shop, especially when the weather is bad, and a cycle trailer will be a step too far for a non-cyclist.
Since most feel they have to have a car to carry out the things mentioned above, understandably they see no reason not to continue using it and not complicate matters with a bike as well. Almost always when I've suggested a bike or e-bike to one of the motorists in my area, the idea is just treated with polite amusement. That's our UK culture.
The general view is that bicycles are for leisure sport, such as lycra clad for club road riding, as off-road mountain bikes to play around on or BMX for stunting,
Cycling for transport is seen by most as dangerous in today's traffic, as impractical in our climate, as tiring and uncomfortable. One can't use a bike to run the kids to school or take them to their activity centres, and many, often most, won't allow their kids to have their own bikes in view of the traffic dangers. Bicycles won't carry husbands, grandparents etc for various purposes such as taking them for a hospital appointment, nor are they practical for longer journeys. A car is ideal for the large weekly shop, especially when the weather is bad, and a cycle trailer will be a step too far for a non-cyclist.
Since most feel they have to have a car to carry out the things mentioned above, understandably they see no reason not to continue using it and not complicate matters with a bike as well. Almost always when I've suggested a bike or e-bike to one of the motorists in my area, the idea is just treated with polite amusement. That's our UK culture.
Flecc, there are a lot of people who own a sofa, doesn't mean to say that you need to use it all the time. Some people might think so but the less lazy will get off it and actually move around.
Same with a car, loads of people use one to nip to the corner shop. Why?
I agree, a car has its many uses but can be left at home at times.
Dangerous is a cop out, many do not live on busy road and still do not consider a cycle.
Cycle manufacturers along with retailer and bike magazines must take a good deal of blame for peoples misconceptions.
Rather like the fashion mags, real people don't look like catwalk skinnies.
Go into any bike shop, lycra and very specialist brightly coloured clothing. Intimidating to a lot of folk.
Where are the commuting bikes with the manakin astride wearing regular day to day clothes and shoes without metal clips attached. Bikes kitted out with basket and panniers, nowhere in sight.
Race bikes and expensive mtbs only. Thats a good part of the problem.
Same with a car, loads of people use one to nip to the corner shop. Why?
I agree, a car has its many uses but can be left at home at times.
Dangerous is a cop out, many do not live on busy road and still do not consider a cycle.
Cycle manufacturers along with retailer and bike magazines must take a good deal of blame for peoples misconceptions.
Rather like the fashion mags, real people don't look like catwalk skinnies.
Go into any bike shop, lycra and very specialist brightly coloured clothing. Intimidating to a lot of folk.
Where are the commuting bikes with the manakin astride wearing regular day to day clothes and shoes without metal clips attached. Bikes kitted out with basket and panniers, nowhere in sight.
Race bikes and expensive mtbs only. Thats a good part of the problem.
I agree with all that SRS, but it's the real world. As much as we'd like it to change and how logical that would be, it's proved an insurmountable barrier to date.
We know from history that the only thing that gets most Britons onto bikes is compulsion. That's what happend in WW2 when cars were not available for general use and public transport was limited. Then much of the country cycled to work.
But as soon as alternatives became available they immediately abandoned their bikes. In little more than a decade many millions of bikes just seemed to vanish.
We know from history that the only thing that gets most Britons onto bikes is compulsion. That's what happend in WW2 when cars were not available for general use and public transport was limited. Then much of the country cycled to work.
But as soon as alternatives became available they immediately abandoned their bikes. In little more than a decade many millions of bikes just seemed to vanish.
I rode to work 3 days before I even knew there was a very good cycle path that takes me from my work to home, I think if there was more cycle paths and bus lanes more people would cycle to work, my commute in the car at 8am on Monday morning can take 1 hour on the bike it takes me 20 mins.
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