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“Centre for Cities” website(s) seem to be down/unobtainable ….
As for quitting cars, it looks as though our misgovernment are likely to make it much harder:
See this report: E-bikes must have insurance & number plates
Which will kill the whole idea
@Greg T
The Centre for Cities link works – perhaps a different browser might be the solution. LBM
@Greg
The term “e-bike” covers a huge range of machines. I wish the Press would make the distinction between an electrically assisted pedal cycle and an electric motorcycle
The only ebikes that are road-legal without number plates, tax, insurance, crash helmet, and a moped or motorcycle licence, are “Electric assisted pedal cycles (EAPC)” which are limited to 15 mph with electric assistance (any faster than that, you have to provide all the power through the pedals). Anyone over the age of 14 may ride one.
(Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (Amendment) Regulations 2015)
The press reports of the recent tragedies in Cardiff and Salford report that the machines involved in both incidents were made by Sur-Ron. That company’s website shows a wide range of electrically powered motorcycles, mostly intended for off road use (all-terrain, trail bikes, scrambling etc) but they do have one street-legal version (Light Bee L1E). This is rated at 5kW – twenty times the legal power output to qualify as an EAPC – and good for 45 mph (three times the limit for an EAPC, which is 15mph), meaning it is legally a motorcycle, not a pedal cycle. The maximum speed of 45 mph disqulaifies it from being a moped (for which the maximum is 25 mph/45kph) so it counts as a “light motorcycle” (up to 11kW, max 0. 1 kW/kg – at 5kW and 50kg it only just qualifies).
To ride one, you must have a provisional licence for light motorcycles (category A1), and to get one of those you have to be at least 17 – and of course you must tax, insure and register it with the DVLA, and wear a crash helmet – and display L plates if you have not yet passed the CBT, theory and practical tests. (And even if the machine is designed to carry one, a provisional licence holder may not carry a pillion passenger, unless that passenger has a full licence)
It is of course perfectly legal for anyone of any age to own a motorcycle – whether road-legal or not – and ride it on private land with the landowners permission.
timbeau & others – thanks
FYI & as a reminder I have an “EPAC” myself & find it a great boon & has cut down on my local car journeys by about 99%
What i was scared of was having go throught the tax/insurance/numberplate fiasco for said Wiley E bicycle …