Me seen that A to B again!

[emissions-free]

I'd like to have a spin on 1 of those A2Bs. Don't reckon it's keep up with mine though but it's definitely prettier

Don't worry this fine piece of machinery doesn't live in the UK and it's soon to follow offspring will be far easier on the eye.

 

[themutiny]

The point about keeping up with traffic on large (dangerous) roundabouts is salient imho. There are routes I take where I will only use the Torq 1,because if I pedal hell for leather,I can keepmy speed around 26mph, which is seemingly just sufficient to stop impatient motorists attempting dangerous manouevres (dangerous for me at least), whereas on my Cytronex,I can only sustain around 22mph. At this speed I am apparently fair game. Maybe the off-road buttons should be re-labelled as 'life-preserver'

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Keeping up

I totally agree with you, this is one of the ebike arguments regarding the safety aspect pf ebikes over pedal bikes.

My point is that we have rules issued by the EU and if we don't stick to them we are in serious danger of loosing our fantastic position of being treated as a push bike in the eyes of the law and legislators.

I agree that more powerful electric bikes are brilliant and will certainly have a place on the road, however these will fall into a separate category where the laws applying to mopeds will and should apply.

All the best David

 

[jerrysimon]

My point is that we have rules issued by the EU and if we don't stick to them we are in serious danger of loosing our fantastic position of being treated as a push bike in the eyes of the law and legislators.

Exactly!

Being able to use our assisted bikes on one way roads via special lanes in Cambridge, cycle paths and routes means my commute to work is faster and more relaxing than driving.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Patrick]

I totally agree with you, this is one of the ebike arguments regarding the safety aspect pf ebikes over pedal bikes.

As long as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) are at least as safe a unasisted pedal cycles then the safety argument isn't valid.

The rationale behind the rules that allow EPACs to avoid being treated as "motor vehicals" dispite the fact they are vehicals that are motorised is that they are so like unassisted pedal cycles that they may as well be treated as such. For an ebike to be significantly safer than unassisted bikes it would have to out perform them to an extent that would make it significantly different from them, which would undermine this rationale.

The safey argument can be used to support the establishment of a low-powered-scooter type class of ebikes, but if you want your machine enjoy the legal benifits of being practically like an unuassisted bike you can't then ask for it to be different from unassisted bikes.

Which does make life tricky for ebike manufacturers, on the one hand they need to market their product on the basis of how different from unassisted bikes they are, on they other hand they need the legislators to keep thinking that their their product are so alike to unassisted bikes that they can be treated in the same way.

 

[flecc]

As long as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) are at least as safe a unasisted pedal cycles then the safety argument isn't valid.

The rationale behind the rules that allow EPACs to avoid being treated as "motor vehicals" dispite the fact they are vehicals that are motorised is that they are so like unassisted pedal cycles that they may as well be treated as such. For an ebike to be significantly safer than unassisted bikes it would have to out perform them to an extent that would make it significantly different from them, which would undermine this rationale.

I agree with the logic behind this Patrick, but an e-bike can be, and is, safer than an unassisted bike while still being just like an unassisted bike under some circumstances.

For example, having the power assistance can enable higher uphill speeds when seated but which are still cycling speeds commensurate with those commonplace on the flat for an equivalent unassisted bike. That's safer since it means less vehicles overtake on the hill during the climb and the common cyclist climb problem of "weaving" at very low climb speeds is largely eliminated.

An unassisted cyclist standing on the pedals can gain equivalent extra speed when climbing but arguably not with the same safety gain, neither the incline or standing on the pedals really being relevant to this matter except in a pedantic sense.

I agree of course that any higher speeds and/or faster acceleration in all circumstances due to assistance make an e-bike unlike an unassisted bike in a relevant way.
.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Let's be sensible

Which does make life tricky for ebike manufacturers, on the one hand they need to market their product on the basis of how different from unassisted bikes they are, on they other hand they need the legislators to keep thinking that their their product are so alike to unassisted bikes that they can be treated in the same way.

I don't think it makes life that tricky at all Patrick, all we are doing is offering the same sort of power a very fit road cyclists already have, to all. It could of course be argued that Bradly Wiggins for example on an electric bike would have a massively fast bike, but only up to 15.5mph +- 10% and I can't imagine him buying one in the first place.

The problems arise when electric bikes become more powerful than even these super athletes and can be ridden without pedaling, then of course they are a motorised vehicle and like it or not will be legislated as such.

To continue to thrive, the electric bike industry has to keep it's special relationship with the law makers, to achieve this all manufacturers especially the big guys need to be seen to be within the EU regulations.

Wisper certainly do not want to jeapordise the current status quo and intend to tow the line. As from 1st January 2010 all Wisper bikes coming into Europe will conform with the letter of EN15194 and will be certificated by TUV. As one of the smaller players in the industry we believe it is the only way we will keep the anti electric bike lobby at bay. We, through BEBA will be encouraging all reputable electric bike suppliers to do the same.

All the best David