Weight limits for really hilly commute

[Nealh]

No case has ever come up afaik, two motors is illegal even if one say's the second is for private land use. Again no case has appeared in court though one could have the bike confiscated by plod.

 

[Greg Burrows]

No case has ever come up afaik, two motors is illegal even if one say's the second is for private land use. Again no case has appeared in court though one could have the bike confiscated by plod.

Not sure how anyone could say two motors are illegal, unless it being powered on a public highway,
as no infringement of the law would have been made, if I put a hub motor wheel on my bike and leave it un powered, ie just use it as a wheel, who could say that was illegal, because it is a wheel with a motor not operational, got a few of those.
That would have to be clarified in a court, the meaning of the statement made by Department of transport.

 

[soundwave]

E-bike cyclist cleared of killing Hackney pedestrian

Thomas Hanlon had denied causing the death of Sakine Cihan while riding a modified e-bike in 2018.

www.bbc.co.uk

.

 

[Greg Burrows]

All this law on ebikes has never really been clarified, I have been riding ebikes from 2009, had a Heinzmann 24v 200w 27 NM then, had to pedal hard with that one, get off and push on most hills, I had a bad foot accident in 2011 can not walk far at all now, so my bike is my only means of getting about to shops etc, hence moved to next motor, Heinzmann 36v 200w 190rpm 54NM, then changed batteries from 36v to 48v, had clansman 24v batteries for years Ni Cad, paired up for 48v, ran two pairs then, now on lithium ion, I make my own batteries up now.
Unfortunately all this EU law they have brought in 2015, has really muddied the waters, reams of it,my bike is pre 2015 so am on twist and go, can not put much pressure pedaling because of my foot, so just pedal with the motor found a 58 tooth chain ring suits my speed,

 

[Greg Burrows]

Thanks for that article Soundwave, I wish I knew how he had modified it though, very unfortunate having someone walk out in front of you, easily done though terrible the consequences as well, even I can reach speeds of 26miles an hour un powered (my motor runs out of revs somewhere just over 16 maybe 18) on a long flat road near me, maybe a couple of degrees decline it has, I know because it has one of those electronic signs that tell you the speed, and I am over 60 years old, some of the hills around here, going down around 40 miles an hour if not more.

 

[sjpt]

Thanks for that article Soundwave,

The cyclist was clearly riding an illegal bike rather dangerously. He was lucky that they only brought the charges 'causing death by careless driving and driving without a licence'. He got off on the first because of the negligence of the pedestrian killed. I'm not sure how he got off on the second; maybe he had a licence.

Usually multiple charges are brought so if the most extreme one (causing death by careless driving in this case) fails, the lesser ones become active. In this case those could have included driving without insurance, driving without registration, etc. I suspect the prosecutors were so sure of his being found guilty on the full charge that they didn't bother to include the lesser charges; and once the case was complete it was too late. (Maybe the rider paid the price anyway in the extreme worry he must have had in the time waiting for trial.)

One result of the case is that people are even more sure than they were before that riding illegal pedelecs (or rather riding legal s-pedelecs or scooters without required legal details) is extremely unlikely to lead to serious problems with the law.

 

[Greg Burrows]

The cyclist was clearly riding an illegal bike rather dangerously. He was lucky that they only brought the charges 'causing death by careless driving and driving without a licence'. He got off on the first because of the negligence of the pedestrian killed. I'm not sure how he got off on the second; maybe he had a licence.

Usually multiple charges are brought so if the most extreme one (causing death by careless driving in this case) fails, the lesser ones become active. In this case those could have included driving without insurance, driving without registration, etc. I suspect the prosecutors were so sure of his being found guilty on the full charge that they didn't bother to include the lesser charges; and once the case was complete it was too late. (Maybe the rider paid the price anyway in the extreme worry he must have had in the time waiting for trial.)

One result of the case is that people are even more sure than they were before that riding illegal pedelecs (or rather riding legal s-pedelecs or scooters without required legal details) is extremely unlikely to lead to serious problems with the law.

Thanks for your reply sjpt, yes when on a charge of such a serious nature, and the mans consious knowing that unfortunately this lady was killed, this is a sentence itself for someone, even though still this accident could have happened with a fit athletic cyclist, doing this speed on the level.
Makes me think of the disaster I could have if some one just steps off the kerb crossing the road, when I am going down a hill doing 40mph + Have one hill not far from me that the road is pretty straight, that drops from around 1200ft to around 300 ft above sea level, not sure what speed I do going down there.

 

[soundwave]

i was riding home one night and some crazy bstd ran out and hit my helmet waiving his hands moving in to my line to imo slow me down but his hand hit my carbon splat hat and heard a crack and my helmet is fine.

and thats just going down a ally way 1130 at night and freezing cold must of hurt as was going about 25mph pmsl

 

[sjpt]

Thanks for your reply sjpt, yes when on a charge of such a serious nature, and the mans consious knowing that unfortunately this lady was killed, this is a sentence itself for someone, even though still this accident could have happened with a fit athletic cyclist, doing this speed on the level.
Makes me think of the disaster I could have if some one just steps off the kerb crossing the road, when I am going down a hill doing 40mph + Have one hill not far from me that the road is pretty straight, that drops from around 1200ft to around 300 ft above sea level, not sure what speed I do going down there.

It could happen with a fit athletic cyclist; but the fact he wasn't using a motor would not stop the fact that it was dangerous riding.

 

[Greg Burrows]

Think that legislation should up the legal nominal power to at least 500W, keep the speed the same at 16mph, as at 250watts it stops any even unslightly unfit or disabled people using Ebikes in areas that have a high Topography.

 

[Greg Burrows]

i was riding home one night and some crazy bstd ran out and hit my helmet waiving his hands moving in to my line to imo slow me down but his hand hit my carbon splat hat and heard a crack and my helmet is fine.

and thats just going down a ally way 1130 at night and freezing cold must of hurt as was going about 25mph pmsl

Yes there are the odd nutters about, had one a couple of weeks back two construction lads in a white van, told me at some lights that I had dropped something from my panniers, went back to look, they then said we are taken the pss, cought them up at the next traffic lights up a hill, there window was down passenger side, could have thumped him very easily did not though, just told him and his mate to grow up, they obviously did not know I was on an Ebike.

 

[Greg Burrows]

Agree

It could happen with a fit athletic cyclist; but the fact he wasn't using a motor would not stop the fact that it was dangerous riding.

Agree sjpt if this is the case, riding recklessly damages us all on here, I always ride with caution and slow on paved pedestrian areas corners etc in case of pedestrians, unfortunately even some non Ebikes ride in a reckless manner with no concern for pedestrians it is not the Ebike that causes a problem it is the attitude of some non Ebike cyclists that concern me most, they are usually young cyclists though.
At over 12 years on an Ebike I have never been cautioned by the police, or ever stopped.
Not saying I have not made mistakes but have learned from them, and not to do again.