Not another legal debate... but :)

[Fordulike]

I don't want this thread to turn into another legal / illegal debate, but I was wondering how on earth the government came up with the figure 15.5mph.

'' The electric motor shouldn’t be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph ''

Now I could understand rounding it up or down to a whole figure, but who on earth tagged on that extra half a mile an hour?

It's not even a direct conversion from a whole figure in kilometres, as I thought the UK might have tried to tally in with European electric bike laws:

15.5mph = 24.9kph

The mind boggles

 

[flecc]

It's due to conformity with EU regulations, their 25 kph corresponds to 15.535 mph.

Blame Brussels!

Our DfT have just rounded to the half rather than the whole number. Bear in mind that they are aware that many pedelecers ask for more assist speed and will grab any extra available. In that vein they have told us that the usual 10% tolerance applies and that affects the issue as shown below:

15 mph + 10% = 16.5 mph

15.5 mph + 10% = 17.05 mph

so that 17 mph is welcome to many.

Creative accounting!
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[KTM Bike Industries UK]

The other interesting comparison is that 15.5mph turns out to be the average speed of the biggest sample of UK cyclists (Strava) so its a good speed to set the law to... as its the average speed of a fit cyclist.

 

[Artstu]

Just to put this insistence by some that the average speed of a fit cyclist should somehow equate to the right assist speed for e-bikes in perspective.

I suggest that cars top speed should be limited to 17.8 mph whilst in built up areas, as this admittedly old article shows, that is the speed of an average car in a built up area at the time of the article.

 

[Kinninvie]

My BBS02 750 will go up to 34 mph and I regularly ride 50+ miles in a day of mixed country lanes and offroad tracks and my average speed usually comes in at between 14 and 15 mph.

 

[flecc]

Just to put this insistence by some that the average speed of a fit cyclist should somehow equate to the right assist speed for e-bikes in perspective.

I suggest that cars top speed should be limited to 17.8 mph whilst in built up areas, as this admittedly old article shows, that is the speed of an average car in a built up area at the time of the article.

But car drivers are tested and licenced. That makes them gods compared to we mere labouring unclassified mortals.
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[torrent99]

But car drivers are tested and licenced. That makes them gods compared to we mere labouring unclassified mortals.
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Well they do have the power of life or death over cyclists. Just a slight movement on the steering wheel and....

 

[flecc]

Well they do have the power of life or death over cyclists. Just a slight movement on the steering wheel and....

Well they do have the power of life or death over cyclists. Just a slight movement on the steering wheel and....

Phew! Another one missed!
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[KTM Bike Industries UK]

The law is set

Just to put this insistence by some that the average speed of a fit cyclist should somehow equate to the right assist speed for e-bikes in perspective.

I suggest that cars top speed should be limited to 17.8 mph whilst in built up areas, as this admittedly old article shows, that is the speed of an average car in a built up area at the time of the article.

That might not be a bad idea in some areas... and actually in lots of urban areas around here its already 20mph, so the logic does stand.

However the cut of speed of an eBike isn't its TOP Speed, or the speed its actually restricted to, so the comparison isn't really relevant. The 15.5mph is just the speed you're assisted to, which is the speed of the average fit cyclists ride. So if you want to go any faster you of course can, but you have to pedal.