I have been experimenting with e-bikes over the past few months and converted a standard BMX to an e-bike over the last weekend. They are unbelievably good. You have to try one to understand how much fun they are.
E-bikes have the potential to revolutionize urban transportation, particularly in European cities but we are being stopped here by heavy regulation.
To be road legal in most European cities an e-bike needs to
1. Be less than 250 watts, and:
2. Only work when you are actively pedaling, otherwise it should come to a halt and,
3. Stop powering the user once it reaches 25kmph.
If you break any of those rules you need to have a motorbike license and have the e-bike licensed (which is practically impossible). These restrictions are unnecessary and heavy handed. There should be some flexibility in the law allowing someone to use a low to medium power e-bike without being forced to pedal and being let drive at a reasonable speed. Every bike used is a car off the road. I've written to my local transportation minister who replied to say that they have no intention of changing the law anytime soon which is a real shame.
E-bikes have the potential to revolutionize urban transportation, particularly in European cities but we are being stopped here by heavy regulation.
To be road legal in most European cities an e-bike needs to 1. Be less than 250 watts, and: 2. Only work when you are actively pedaling, otherwise it should come to a halt and, 3. Stop powering the user once it reaches 25kmph.
If you break any of those rules you need to have a motorbike license and have the e-bike licensed (which is practically impossible). These restrictions are unnecessary and heavy handed. There should be some flexibility in the law allowing someone to use a low to medium power e-bike without being forced to pedal and being let drive at a reasonable speed. Every bike used is a car off the road. I've written to my local transportation minister who replied to say that they have no intention of changing the law anytime soon which is a real shame.