Riding an electric cargo bike legally in the UK

[Deleted member 4366]

Nearly all lights fitted to bikes are illegal, but does anybody care?

 

[Cyclezee]

Nearly all lights fitted to bikes are illegal, but does anybody care?

I can think of one person who does care

 

[shemozzle999]

Oh an attempt at Sarcasm - I prefer this one - I was expecting a battle of wits but you seem unarmed

 

[cwah]

Hi Green 79,

Welcome to the forum, I guess you coming from overseas?

We already have a few customers in Oxford, one of them has an eZee powered Yuba el Mundo that he uses amongst other things to take his kids to school so you don't need to worry about using your Surly conversion.

Yuba el Mundo​

View attachment 11023

Another customers eZee powered Big Dummy
View attachment 11024 ​

eZee now have their own complete cargo/utility bike that was designed and manufactured 'in house', the Expedir which comes in two versions, the GTS and the LTS, they are available with host of accessories for different uses.

eZee Expedir LTS​

View attachment 11025

eZee Expedir GTS​

View attachment 11027

Also the eZee i-Omega mini cargo bike
View attachment 11026 ​

Would you someday sell a full suspension cargo bike?

 

[Cyclezee]

Would you someday sell a full suspension cargo bike?

Hi cwah,
I doubt that we will as it would add to the weight, the simplest solution to suspension on a cargo bike is ballon tyres.
Having said that never rule anything out.

 

[shemozzle999]

I wonder how many cyclists have been prosecuted for not having a bell, or motorists who don't have the manufacturer of their number plate stamped on it, other ...

Regarding the bell:

Bikes have to be fitted with bells while in the bike shop, but there is no legal requirement to fit or use them once on the road. The Highway Code merely suggests that cyclists ‘should be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example by ringing your bell.’ Any other ‘audible warning’ – horn, rattle, duck call or the human voice – would do.

Source: https://www.eta.co.uk/cycling-and-the-law/

 

[shemozzle999]

Nearly all lights fitted to bikes are illegal, but does anybody care?

The CTC do and have published this:

http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations

 

[flecc]

I wonder how many cyclists have been prosecuted for not having a bell, ...

The bells law is a mess so it's little wonder there are no prosecutions.

In 1983 the government of the day removed the requirement to have bells fitted. Then in 1999 the measure was due to be introduced while being strongly opposed by most manufacturers, dealers and cycling organisations. They have never conformed and most bikes are not fitted with bells.

Bikes on display do not have to fitted with bells but must by law be sold with them. However the dealer does not have to fit them, simply because it is entirely legal for a bike to be sold unassembled to any degree, the dealer merely has to offer the bell with a bike to comply with the law, though few even bother to do that. Also the law does not require bikes sold online or through mail order to be supplied with bells.

Add the fact that a bike does not have to have a bell when ridden and one can see that any successful prosecution is very unlikely.

In the newest twist in 2011, one of the proposals to remove red tape by the current government was the cancellation of the compulsory bell supply law. The DfT was tasked to investigate that and that may still be on the agenda.
.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The CTC do and have published this:

http://www.ctc.org.uk/cyclists-library/regulations/lighting-regulations

I read that, but I don't see anywhere where it says they care. It's merely a statement of the present situation, and they even say that you're unlikelyto be prosecuted for non-compliant lights. If they really cared, they'd be campaigning for change.

 

[shemozzle999]

Change what?

 

[anotherkiwi]

"Is a bell really neccesary on a bicycle"... Sorry couldn't resist. I have seen French policemen writing a ticket for a missing bell... OK the person had been pulled over for another reason but got stung for that. Front and rear reflectors. Orange side reflectors in the wheels (so white tyre reflectors are not enough alone) and pedals . Lights (no legal reference on thier power) and... brakes front and rear! What a good idea!!!

 

[selrahc1992]

First time poster here.

My family and I have an opportunity to move to Oxford for a couple of years and are looking a bring our cargo bike with us. I was looking for advice on how to ride it legally in the UK.

I have a Surly Big Dummy with a eZee conversion kit, Cycle Analyst V3 and a 36V 16.5Ah frame battery pack

Based on the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

Would limiting the motor based on maximum speed and output using the Cycle Analyst be sufficient to make this legal to ride?
Would making my own plate showing the manufacturer, the nominal voltage of the battery, and the motor’s power output meet the requirement in the link?
Any idea whether it might qualify under the tandem/tricycle definition? I ask because I'm guessing the weight is around the maximum with the kids seats etc on it.
Any cargo bikers in Oxford and experience with a bakfiets / bullitt style bike there? We'll probably go car free so were thinking of a boxbike to supplement the big dummy? Not sure how a larger bike might fit in with narrower roads etc

Thanks in advance!

with respect to everyone involved in this debate, i find the direction threads go in sometimes flummoxing, bit like discovering a parralel world really. truly, i didnt see one about the legality of bells coming.
as someonewho rattles around on a derestricted pedelec id find it astonishing if you have any problems with plod or anything else if you stick to around 20 mph and do do anything visibly illegal (like towing a caravan)

 

[JohnCade]

Just make sure you have your duck call with you. Or better still your rattle to spin around furiously as you close up on pedestrians. Not sure which hand you’d use though....

 

[flecc]

do anything visibly illegal (like towing a caravan)

Actually bike caravans are entirely legal in many countries including the UK, a dozen shown on the link below and many more online. At one time Wisper e-bikes considered adding a bicycle caravan to their e-bike range.

Bicycle caravans
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[flecc]

"Is a bell really neccesary on a bicycle"... Sorry couldn't resist. I have seen French policemen writing a ticket for a missing bell... OK the person had been pulled over for another reason but got stung for that. Front and rear reflectors. Orange side reflectors in the wheels (so white tyre reflectors are not enough alone) and pedals . Lights (no legal reference on thier power) and... brakes front and rear! What a good idea!!!

The 1968 Vienna Convention rules on road traffic include a specific mention that bicycle bells must be fitted in accordance with each visited countries ruling. So being without here is ok, but cross the channel with a bike and one can be in trouble.
.

 

[selrahc1992]

Actually bike caravans are entirely legal, a dozen shown on the link below and many more online. At one time Wisper e-bikes considered adding a bicycle caravan to their e-bike range.

Bicycle caravans
.

too true, my apologies, in the spirit of this thread i feel i should make a correction: dont do anything visibly illegal such as towing a two tonne caravan faster than 45 mph against a 45% gradient.

 

[flecc]

I guessed you meant a large caravan but thought my observation worthwhile for those who might not know whether a bike could tow a small one.
.

 

[selrahc1992]

I guessed you meant a large caravan but thought my obsevation worthwhile for those who might not know whether a bike could tow a small one.
.

yes i took it as that, and its an entirely valid point. In fact it made me wonder whether there are legal limits to what a bike is allowed to tow (for a moment i considered inflaming a whole new debate by asking whether a 250kw pedelelc rertricted to 17.8 mph towing an airstream woudl be legal in Oxford..)

 

[anotherkiwi]

Actually bike caravans are entirely legal in many countries including the UK, a dozen shown on the link below and many more online. At one time Wisper e-bikes considered adding a bicycle caravan to their e-bike range.

Bicycle caravans
.

Shameless plug: http://www.amateurboatbuilding.com/articles/news/woodenwidget/foldavan/index.html

 

[anotherkiwi]

The 1968 Vienna Convention rules on road traffic include a specific mention that bicycle bells must be fitted in accordance with each visited countries ruling. So being without here is ok, but cross the channel with a bike and one can be in trouble.
.

And the law says "must be audible at 50 metres". I doubt that is possible in rush hour Paris traffic though...