New Legal Speed Limit: What should it be?

[flecc]

With Melanie Sykes congratulating me at the end of it with a bag of chips and two pints of Boddingtons

(At least in my perfect cycling conditions)

Gaz

I had to look up Melanie Sykes, never heard of her. Apparently she appeared on daytime TV and other TV I'd never have seen.
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[nemesis]

Very few can manage to ride at 30mph on a flat road unassited,a power output of 350w would be needed riding in a aero position on a racing bike.

 

[georgehenry]

I think a 20 mph top assistance speed would be a good compromise and a lot safer for cycle commuters on the road.

I don't see any issues with lower speed limits on mixed use paths and a 20 mph top assist speed.

Just like driving a car in a 30mph limit you just have to cycle at the appropriate slower speed.

Not that hard surely.

After all it would not be that hard to cycle a non assisted bike too fast.

Though it hurts me to say it there could even be radar speed checks and fines for the naughty.

 

[flecc]

Just like driving a car in a 30mph limit you just have to cycle at the appropriate slower speed.

But cars are traceable and their drivers have to be tested and licenced.

Bring in registration and a driving licence for pedelecs and we could do away with assist limits, just have the national 60mph speed limit and local lower limits like 30 and 20 mph.

N.B. The bicycle based 15.5mph assist limit L1e-A class has registration and a driving licence, so it's probable that pedelecs would be hit if we push too hard for higher speeds and are successful.
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[malkie0831]

We have a lot if cycle paths where I live and mopeds are allowed to use them at 30, I find it very scarey at half that speed with dog walkers and children about. Keeps my concentration up though.

 

[Gaz]

I had to look up Melanie Sykes, never heard of her. Apparently she appeared on daytime TV and other TV I'd never have seen.
.

Behold, for your delectation (and maybe mine too):

 

[NJS]

Behold, for your delectation (and maybe mine too):

It may be a generational thing, but it was done better, earlier:

 

[oldtom]

Cyclists should be perfectly free to pedal as hard as they wish but they should adhere to speed limits where they apply and they should ride responsibly on shared paths and tracks.

As for powered assistance, I remain grateful that I can have assistance up to 25kph which isn't slow as anyone coming off a bike at that speed can testify. Beyond 25kph, I need to pedal harder and if I can't manage that and need to get somewhere in a hurry, I must give myself more time for my journey or use another form of personal transport.

Tom

 

[mike killay]

I think that we ought to keep very quiet, certainly until there are a huge number of ecyclists and therefore safety in numbers.
You all know just how prudish and weird the UK government of any colour can be, and it would not take long before restrictions, licences and taxes would be imposed.

 

[flecc]

Behold, for your delectation (and maybe mine too):

But I don't drink alcohol either!
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[Fordulike]

I think that we ought to keep very quiet, certainly until there are a huge number of ecyclists and therefore safety in numbers.
You all know just how prudish and weird the UK government of any colour can be, and it would not take long before restrictions, licences and taxes would be imposed.

Nah, politicians are too busy watching porn on their office computers!

 

[flecc]

I think that we ought to keep very quiet, certainly until there are a huge number of ecyclists and therefore safety in numbers.
You all know just how prudish and weird the UK government of any colour can be, and it would not take long before restrictions, licences and taxes would be imposed.

Indeed, we will become especially vulnerable once out of the EU.

While in the EU it would be very difficult for government to defy the EU position that pedelecs are just bicycles. Once out of the EU any Chancellor of the Exchequer wanting to raise more money could virtually nod through such a measure without warning.
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[Yamdude]

20mph seems like a happy medium to me, i'd be happy with that.
I doubt it'll ever happen though.

 

[Gubbins]

Dont forget that you have to stop!
I used to think that my disc brakes were really good until I was going fast (too fast) downhill following a car (not too Close) when said car decided a gap was too small for him /her (dont know the gender neutral term to use) to continue and stopped. I thought I had plenty of space and time to pull up, but a heavy e-bike plus me going downhill at 20+ mph takes some stopping. No accident ocured as i was able to stop but I was shocked by the distance travelled and it made me think, what if I were able to maintain this speed on the flat...... The bike has good brakes that are working correctly and at 15.5mph its easy to stop quickly in most conditions so 15.5 mph gets my vote.
Consider also that if you make a higher speed legal for an experienced comuter, you also make it it legal for others to ride at speeds they are umprepared for..

 

[anotherkiwi]

I just watched a video on vélomobile stopping distances (similar weight of vehicle to a pedelec): 18 meters for an experienced rider from 60 km/h on the flat. Cost him the left front tyre (Kojak) which wore through to the canvas...

 

[KirstinS]

20 sounds good to me but I like to have a few extra mph in the pocket for those get out of trouble moments

 

[georgehenry]

Dont forget that you have to stop!
I used to think that my disc brakes were really good until I was going fast (too fast) downhill following a car (not too Close) when said car decided a gap was too small for him /her (dont know the gender neutral term to use) to continue and stopped. I thought I had plenty of space and time to pull up, but a heavy e-bike plus me going downhill at 20+ mph takes some stopping. No accident ocured as i was able to stop but I was shocked by the distance travelled

I think the trouble with that argument is that a restricted ebike with an inexperienced rider or for that matter any rider will quickly exceed the assist speed cut off and very quickly pass 20 mph on nearly any downhill.

I either turn the motor off or have it on the lowest level of assist and on my old Oxygen Emate City or more modern Haibike sDuro with their weight and me pedaling easily pass 20mph and often 30mph with no motor assistance involved. On one steeper hill coming home today on the road with the assist off I stopped pedaling and topped out at 37mph.

A legal cut out speed or a higher cut out speed become largely irreverent downhill.

 

[Gubbins]

Well, no not really.. you just use your brakes to slow down.

 

[SHAN]

20 is fine for me, its what I average on my "normal" bike, so it would be good to match without the sweat.

 

[TZC]

20 is fine for me, its what I average on my "normal" bike, so it would be good to match without the sweat.

Average 20? Wow what's your top speed

You must have thighs the equivalent of Popeyes forearms