The government’s recent e-bike proposals to double the legal wattage of motors to 500W and allow ‘twist and go’ e-bikes with throttle control up to 15.5mph are ‘unnecessary’, ‘risky’, and the ‘wrong approach’, the Bicycle Association (BA) and Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) have said. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced the proposed changes in February, with the rationale that they will make electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs), “a more attractive and viable travel option for more people”.
  • RobotToaster@mander.xyzEnglish
    51·
    2 months ago

    The bicycle company lobby being luddites is entirely unsurprising.

    The current 250w is less than a human cyclist can produce. We allow horses on our roads that can produce over 10,000w, without a MOT or licence, but only rich people ride those so I suppose that’s okay.

    • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      I’m sure it’s not entirely the same in the UK, but in the US, it’s often mamils that are most opposed to better bike infrastructure and accessibility. Some of the original major opponents to bike paths here were guys who didn’t think they could bike as fast as they wanted on dedicated bike lanes, and they thought that having bike lanes would disallow them from using roads.

      I think it’s the same going on now. Weekend warrior lycra guys trying to prevent the masses from clogging their transportation infrastructure.

  • Destide@feddit.ukMEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    Amps are far more important to the UK than top speed, 250w is great for Norfolk, but I imagine people in Sheffield would disagree. Whilst I don’t use a throttle on mine there’s been times I could have used one, esp when getting a leg injury from mad hill climbs on my commute so I would imagine someone with a chronic issue this would be a game changer getting out the house doing daily tasks etc. Shame that two bodies that should be championing more people on bikes are fighting it. It won’t stop kids on Surons wheeling into prams, but it will leave bikes in the shop/garage.

    • Mex@feddit.ukOPEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      a bit more power will really help to update on cargo bikes i think

    • hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      32·
      2 months ago

      I don’t get ebikes with throttles. It’s basically moped at that point

      Now I don’t agree that mopeds should be so heavily regulated but basically it falls into the same category, only that one is powered with electricity and other is ice

      • Mex@feddit.ukOPEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        with the limted top speed and weight diffrence mopeds are still much more dangerous than a twist and go e-bike

  • IllecorsAEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    I guess London is not going to feel any difference - every other ebike is already run on a throttle and 5-600W motors. Cat’s out of the bag at this point, I suppose, but it really pisses me off when they’re whizzing around at silly speeds looking down at their damn phones.

      • IllecorsAEnglish
        12·
        2 months ago

        Huh? This is such a useless comment. Says nothing and yet creates an excuse for idiots.

        Murder is also better than mass-murder, yet I don’t think anyone would ever use such statement to justify it.

  • brewery@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    As an ebike user, I’d rather they legalise e-scooters with similar regulations, especially around battery safety. I had one and loved it for certain journeys, as I love my bike for other journeys. Wish I could legally buy one I can trust.

    I sort of agree that cycle infrastructure improvements are much more important than these proposals but I don’t see how you should block these as it’s not exactly like the government needs to spend much to do this, so it’s not reducing the money for infrastructure so why not do both.