Update on N.I. e-bike regs.

[TedG]

Firstly Tommie my bike isn't registered nor will it ever be.
The plan is to get me to register it with all that goes with that stupidity.
I intend to press on with this to see it out but I am not registering a bicycle.

Secondly neither reply was from the Civil Service. Both were from politicians, one of them in the higher eschelons and to be fair he has always responded to me personally despite the nightmare in which he is currently embroiled in other matters.

Unlike Flecc I am politically illiterate but after what I learnt during a six year war with an insurance company I am not easily "fobbed off" and again to be honest he has never ignored me right from the beginning of this sorry saga.

 

[TedG]

Somewhat misleading reply I suppose but being politically illiterate I failed to acknowledge that politicians are indeed in the civil service.

To me it just doesn't seem that way.

 

[TedG]

Two questions;
1. Guess who has been invited to Stormont for a meeting with a leading MP?
2. Will I need a new frock?

Edit
3. Guess who is being allotted a private parking space?

 

[flecc]

Well done Ted, hope all goes well at the meeting.

Is it a car space or pedelec space.
.

 

[Nealh]

You need to go the whole hog and turn up on your ebike along with all your N.I co - ebikers as well, but from your past postings unlikely your bike will turn a wheel.

 

[TedG]

You need to go the whole hog and turn up on your ebike along with all your N.I co - ebikers as well, but from your past postings unlikely your bike will turn a wheel.

If only we could arrange such a thing it would be impressive but for now I have a list of questions brewing and simmering so I hope he isn't planning an early night at his BBQ.
As for my unwillingness to cycle there illegally I would hope you understand that I am too old and have been through too much in 67 years to make it easy for authorities to smack me.

 

[TedG]

Well done Ted, hope all goes well at the meeting.

Is it a car space or pedelec space.
.

Aside from the obvious the even better thing is that this MP is a fanatical cyclist , conventional type but at least he should be sympathetic to fellow two wheelers rather than some overstuffed oaf who would need stabilisers.

I am working on refining my attitude which dismays me at times.

The parking space is a disabled one for a car. My ongoing mobility problems are the original reason for buying a Pedelec in the first place and this I intend pointing out as soon as possible.

30.4.18 at 3pm.

 

[egroover]

Good luck Ted, hope it goes well.

If I was living in NI, and as a keen ebiker, I would make a point of getting a banner and be stood at the entrance for when he (and you) arrive on the 30th. Get the local press down there and get some quotes from this MP post the meeting.
Come on NI ebikers ! Power to the people !

 

[tommie]

Well done Ted!

Funny just this minute i was reading on the progress of our new Greenway, the cross border stage from Newry through to Greenore, this apparently will link onto the Newry canal Towpath route through to Craigavon and then on to Belfast. It is open to both walkers and cyclists.

https://www.newry.ie/news/latest-news/5175-greenway-to-victoria-lock-to-open-early-2018

How nice for cyclists i thought - just a pity we can`t use the dam thing!

Neither can the folk from down south use it either, they will have to dismount at Omeath get hold of a V5 plus insurance plus all the rest of the garbage to continue.
I do hope you point this out at the time of your meeting, we are now more restricted than ever with this new registration law.

Good Luck!

 

[TedG]

Thanks for that info Tommie lad. I will certainly use it with my increasing list.
I am somwhat simplistic though in that I am more interested in the basics of how this law can't be set aside, as so many of you have previously suggested - a waiver until there can be a definitive agreement that we are riding bicycles and not mopeds and treated accordingly.
What we won't be doing is accepting that "there is a need for a devolved government to be established........... etc yawn"
We won't want to talk politics, we will want answers to simple logical questions about parity with the rest of the UK which to my black and white logic should let politics and bickering be set aside in this instance and replaced with common sense.

 

[TedG]

Good luck Ted, hope it goes well.

If I was living in NI, and as a keen ebiker, I would make a point of getting a banner and be stood at the entrance for when he (and you) arrive on the 30th. Get the local press down there and get some quotes from this MP post the meeting.
Come on NI ebikers ! Power to the people !

Cheers Egroover.
In an ideal world this plan would have great support, like many before it on various subjects in this complex part of the UK.
However hard I have tried I can't find any concrete facts on how many e-bikers are actually here and cycling.
It is well documented regarding the amount of conventional cyclists around all of the UK including here, with roads closed for a variety of cycling events and any attempts to ban or dissuade them would be met with combined fury.
I simply don't think there are enough e-bikers here to mount a similar challenge to this ludicrous law because any of the few who I have been able to find still active are ignoring the law, which sadly we can't do.
To put it simply and bluntly I don't think that many people, e-bike riders or otherwise are particularly interested.
We all know our bikes inside out but I was continually questioned while resting or in train carriages as to "what sort of bicycles are they?"
We were always polite and explained but we're usually met with "oh what a great idea" but were they going to spend real money on owning one?
Sadly we were left somewhat disappointed that the niche market here is set to continue.

 

[Wicky]

my 888 Ducati.

Ironically enough a few years ago everytime I taxed my motorcycle it was always printed as BICYCLE.

Just a thought in promoting and garning further support for sorting out your problem - what about contacting the Nolan Show's Vinny Hurrell... https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-born-to-be-wild-nolan-shows-vinny-hurrell-unleashes-his-inner-biker-36015682.html

 

[TedG]

Ironically enough a few years ago everytime I taxed my motorcycle it was always printed as BICYCLE.

Just a thought in promoting and garning further support for sorting out your problem - what about contacting the Nolan Show's Vinny Hurrell... https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-born-to-be-wild-nolan-shows-vinny-hurrell-unleashes-his-inner-biker-36015682.html

Haven't ridden a motorcycle since my industrial accident in 1993 but I will take your word for the facts on taxing.
The Nolan show for the Hard of Thinking, well that is another story on which I'd better not make my personal views public.

 

[Wicky]

IIRC It was someone (Tommie ?) originally posting the Nolan article/vid that first got the attention here that things weren't all well in NI pedelec wise and publlicised the ridiculousness of the current situation.

Just saying - any wider publicity and allies for your campaign can't do any harm.

 

[Damian.Doherty]

I would love to join you Ted but I'm in London with work that week. If there is going to be a photo opportunity or the TV there I think it send a powerful message to see you and your wife riding your bikes.

This would make it abundantly clear that you are riding an electrically assisted bicycle.....not a moped!

I wish you all the best and based on everything I've read I think there is a real chance of getting the waiver...fingers crossed!

 

[TedG]

IIRC It was someone (Tommie ?) originally posting the Nolan article/vid that first got the attention here that things weren't all well in NI pedelec wise and publlicised the ridiculousness of the current situation.

Just saying - any wider publicity and allies for your campaign can't do any harm.

With respect I personally feel it was Nolan searching for material for his show which brought this into the floodlights. Fair to say he may well have been warning us that what we were doing on our bicycles was illegal.
I have had some dealings with Nolan in the past and it didn't go well.
I do see your point however about him having leverage and being able to bring wider publicity.
I won't say anymore re him but hopefully someone else will alert him.
I have done my bit and look forward to the Stormont meeting.

 

[TedG]

If there is going to be a photo opportunity or the TV there I think it send a powerful message to see you and your wife riding your bikes.

This would make it abundantly clear that you are riding an electrically assisted bicycle.....not a moped!

I wish you all the best and based on everything I've read I think there is a real chance of getting the waiver...fingers crossed!

In theory this is a fine idea but in practice we have no way to get our bikes from our home to Stormont unless we hire a van - and getting a panel van into Stormont presents its own problems!
Secondly we would be on our own in this pilgrimage and as I already said I am not all that sure just how many ebikers there are here or indeed if most of them are even bothered about remaining legal throughout this fiasco.
I must try not to be greedy and just get as much information as we can at the meeting. As for action, well that might take a bit more effort.
He is an avid cyclist and I have already sent photos of our bikes both on the towpath and on the Bangor train. I have no doubt that he knows that what we have are bicycles rather then mopeds.
We are however grateful to him for at least offering to listen when so many are more interested in bickering.

 

[TedG]

Don't mock.
I got the first Brompton today and it is excellent. As an ex- engineer in a past life I can appreciate how well this is put together. Proper class. Folding genius.
There will certainly be cheaper models but as we know we get what we pay for.
Anne's bike but I did have a ride along a familiar embankment wearing a Tesco bag on my head because of the chosen colour. The six speed gears are splendid but I must wait on mine because I want a lower chain wheel as I need all the help I can get.
Does it compare to my e-bike?
Not even close but at least we will soon be out together again, if at a more sedate pace and now with the ability of taking them in the boot to places which wouldn't be possible on our e-bikes.

Will some bonehead discover a law prohibiting their use on a Wednesday?
Probably, anything is possible here.

 

[Danidl]

Don't mock.
I got the first Brompton today and it is excellent. As an ex- engineer in a past life I can appreciate how well this is put together. Proper class. Folding genius.
There will certainly be cheaper models but as we know we get what we pay for.
Anne's bike but I did have a ride along a familiar embankment wearing a Tesco bag on my head because of the chosen colour. The six speed gears are splendid but I must wait on mine because I want a lower chain wheel as I need all the help I can get.
Does it compare to my e-bike?
Not even close but at least we will soon be out together again, if at a more sedate pace and now with the ability of taking them in the boot to places which wouldn't be possible on our e-bikes.

Will some bonehead discover a law prohibiting their use on a Wednesday?
Probably, anything is possible here.

.. once an engineer always an engineer.. ..

 

[mike killay]

Now, a camera, a piece of chalk and two ebikes on this new cycle path.
Draw a line across the path to represent the border, photograph two ebikes at the border but on the side marked RoI and label the photo
'Hard Border'
Send it to the Press, insisting that the UK government should erect a warning sign at the border to inform RoI nationals entering NI of the legal situation.