Electric pushbikes

Tfp

Tfp

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Saw one today whizzing along the road, maybe 20-25mph.

So my question.

When does one become a "motorised vehicle" and require tax and insurance?

And a crash helmet?

Anyone in the know?
 
Tfp said:
Saw one today whizzing along the road, maybe 20-25mph.

So my question.

When does one become a "motorised vehicle" and require tax and insurance?

And a crash helmet?

Anyone in the know?
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I've never gave it a thought about road tax or insurance for an electric bike.
Andy's post now helps clarify this
 
I bike into town most days to support my local coffee shop, I average around 16mph which isn't bad for an oldie like me. This thing whizzed passed me. No crash helmet, and knowing the lad, will have had no insurance etc....
 
Sorry, don't know in the UK but a bloke I know has got one and had a nasty crash at a roundabout.
Problem is with these bloody things, the motorist just sees a pushbike and has no idea what speed they are doing.
 
So I guess if this lad gets stopped by plod he'll just say he was pedalling it, motor not engaged.

No way the Police would be able to disprove that.
 
Tfp said:
So I guess if this lad gets stopped by plod he'll just say he was pedalling it
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I laughed my ass off once when I heard his batteries had given up the ghost and he had to pedal it, these things weigh a ton.
His favorite hobby is overtaking racing bikes.
 
I can see cyclists having to pay road tax in the future - would bring in a few million!:D
 
DavidM said:
I can see cyclists having to pay road tax in the future - would bring in a few million!:D
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yeah, like dog licenses.;)=))

Tony.
 
DavidM said:
I can see cyclists having to pay road tax in the future - would bring in a few million!:D
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Well even if bicycles were re-categorised and weren't exempt from VED, you still wouldn't have to pay any VED as they are zero emissions. So no, it wouldn't bring in anything.

On the subject of eBikes, I do alot of cycling but have been tempted to put one together for commuting. I cycle to work 2 or 3 times a week and it's a 17 mile journey. I like doing it, but sometimes if you are a little tired it can be a bit of a pain, especially at the end of the day. eBikes should only assist up to 15mph, but it's easy to get around that if you've built your own one. Obviously then you run the risk of getting caught by the police, although I think this would be unlikely as how are they to know you aren't just pedalling it yourself. On the flat I can go at 25mph on my road bike so it'd be hard for them to prove otherwise.
 
I cycle for pleasure and exercise so I don't see the point of an electric one. I guess it's the answer for someone not able if it gets them out and about in the fresh air.
 
I've got a BMW ebike - great fun - but the electric motor doesn't take over completely, just assists you when you want it, and you still get the feeling of having been on a bike ride when you return home. You can ride it without using the motor - no different than a normal bike.
 
I've ridden a ebike and you still have to pedal the more you pedal the greater your range and it makes hills a load easier,in a way it may encourage more people to ride .the one I used had a sort of gear so that you could regulate the power it provided.it can certainly make cycling more pleasurable for people that don't enjoy the uphill .You will always get some people that will make their bike faster the same as cars
 
miller1098 said:
Why?
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As I posted further up the thread, you come to a junction or roundabout for example and you look and you see a bog standard looking pushbike, not a racing bike, so you think OK and pull out, before you know it, they are on your bonnet and its all your fault.
The bloke I mentioned in my post got a brand new one on the car owners insurance.
 
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