Like they did with drones, punish the law abiding to control the lawless.

I'm 79 and my ebike is a lifeline as well as a pleasure. You are quite correct, further legislation is not required, enforcement is what is needed.

Well said mate and an excellent summary right at the end. Ebikes are NOT Electric Motorcycles.👍🏼

I'll never give up my bike, or get a licence or insurance by force. If your legs have to go around to make it move, especially at 15 miles an hour, then it's exempt. Unless someone us caught doing faster speeds, no crime has been committed. Oh, and I'm a 58 year old man, not a kid

Anything to rinse the pockets of the public, they should cut down on government spending that should save a pretty penny.

I didn't think there could be anything more this government can break. I was wrong.

I completely understand what you are saying, and agree, electric bikes are completely different to electric motorcycles and should be encouraged, but most will not see the sutble differences, and class them all the same. E-Scooters open up an even larger can of worms. There are trials of road legal e-scooters in the UK which you can hire, but any you can buy are not legal for road use. Most comply with the 15.5mph speed limit, but there are high powered e-scooters capable of speeds up to 50mph that you can legally buy and own, but not use on UK roads. I was shocked to be overtaken by an e-scooter one day while driving in my car. It was dark, and the rider was dressed in dark clothing with no lights, and the e-scooter was also black in colour. Ahead of me I saw them drive up onto the pavement before turning at speed into a garage forecourt. A pedestrian would have never stood a chance if they had rounded the corner as the scooter approached. It was shocking and scary to see. It's the illegal use of these high powered motor vehicles, not the taxation of legitmate users that needs to be stopped.

Interesting. I know here in Germany, ebikes are not allowed to have a throttle. What we have here is the normal pedelec is regarded the same as a bicycle and a s-pedelec you must have a license, insurance, number plate and a motorbike helmet. They are also not allowed on the cycle paths or paths in the forest. I do have to say, Germany does have some great rules when it comes to ebikes. Unfortunately, it those that hack the ebikes that has probably the reason why the UK are thinking of banning them.

Back in the day certain people rode pit bikes and scramblers on the public road with utter disregard for everyone around them. Today, electric motorcycles have mostly replaced the pit bikes and scramblers, but it's still the same people with the same utter disregard for everyone around them. It's the singer, not the song.

I still have my Sinclair C5. It's still road legal with the only stipulation being that the operator is 14 years old or more and cannot be self propelled over 15mph. You can pedal over 15mph only.

We need to stand up to this bullshit

In europe all vehicals under 350kg with a designed top speed of 45KPM (30MPH) are Sans Permis (Licence free)

When I was a lad quite a few people bought a 49cc Yamaha FS1E to use on the road from their 16th birthday. There wasn't many "Fizzies" that weren't bored out to nearer 60cc and had expansion pipes on to improve performance (not that I ever did). Similarly it was common for Honda SS50's to be fitted with a Honda 70 head, barrel and piston. What I am driving at is that people will always attempt to modify vehicles of any kind. What is needed is more severe punishments but there again why should the police and courts do the parents job? E bikes and E M/cycles are worlds apart even to an idiot....aren't they?

You've hit the nail on the head - not only were most of the vehicles those kids were riding were not e-bikes, but electric motorcycles - additionally these are already illegal to use without the need for further legislation at all. Of course, with most police going after 'hurty words' instead of doing preventative policing, these tradgedies were bound to happen sooner or later. Further, the fact that the ebike regulations are already some of the most stringent (Italy may beat Australia in how bad the regulations are that penalise legal ebike riders, especially in more hilly areas of the country), any further unwieldy restrictions on legal ebikes will just kill off most incentives for active travel and further price it out-of-reach for those who can least afford any other form of transport. Further, it will do nothing to target illegal electric motorbike use. Was already very fed up of this country who target and tax farmers to oblivion, not to mention making it impossible to run a business without knowing the right civil servants or politicians - now I feel like a lepper simply for wanting pedal assistance for hillsides & difficult situations, without needing a car. But of course in Wales, cars are about to be limited to 'horse and cart' speeds, so we're F........d. :/

There's a huge difference between an e-bike (pedelec) and what is essentially an illegal e-motorbike, hopefully we will soon get government ministers who are not so beholden to four wheeled interests soon.

Hi I am 67 years old and have an ebike. I use it every day and I haven't had any issues with other ebike users. The issues I encounter are people walking down the cycle tracks and giving you abuse for being on the cycle track, what they are walking on. Thanks for the heads up

Good video, spot on… now write to your local MP.

Yeah, I agree totally with you. Cyclists are being grouped into the ASBO mob who display total disregard any form of authority. I also think that the e-bike laws are inadequate especially regarding maximum motor power limit of 250w. Unfortunately this limit was written by Brussels Bureaucrats and as we know the majority of Europe is fairly flat compared to the UK which is 2/3 mountainous if you consider the Tees / Exe line. I do think that cyclists need to be accountable for their behaviour (how many times have you seen cyclists disregard red lights), so registration of all road going cyclists has to be one of the considered options. Is it practical? Many opponents to motorised cycles in the 50's said no, yet all road going motorcycles today have number plates. Are there better ways to achieve this today? yes, definitely. The use of electronic tags that could be read by readers on roadside equipment (such as existing cameras, traffic lights and even street lights). The technology exists! Finally your argument about a fit cyclist (maybe 50 Kg) being able to consistently ride at 30 mph is a poor comparison when you consider that an unfit cyclist weighing twice as much (100 Kg) will have the same kinetic force in an impact at 15 mph. I would prefer that e-cycles be categorised similar to the way they are in America with 250w / 15.5 mph cycles falling into the lowest category, then maybe two or three categories being classified that could need registration / insurance, leading up to things like the Surron that need to be classified as electric motorbikes. I also think that the Moped category of motorcycles is confusing the issue. I cannot remember the last time I saw a motorcycle that could be peddled if it ran out of petrol (Memories of the Yamaha Fizzie are fading now!). Unfortunately the law makers in this country are very lazy, and have relied on Brussels for far to long. Newsflash - we're not in the EU now. Time for this country to start taking a common sense approach to laws. Stop penalising the law abiding citizens, and write (and enforce) laws that go after the criminal element. Footnote: I have just read through the regulations and found that the law states the electric motor must not exceed a CONTINUOUS motor power output exceeding 250w, and further reading suggests that continuous refers to 30 minutes or more. I could be forgiven therefore for thinking it is permissible for your motor to exceed 250w, say when climbing a hill, and there is no mention of a limit on the non-continuous power output of the motor. In all instances however, the motor must cut out in excess of 15.5 mph. I could also be forgiven for thinking that my e-bike could produce over 250w of power while I'm pedalling so long as I don't pedal continuously for more than 30 minutes, or exceed 15.5 mph which would be a feat for me in itself Very interesting.

You are of course right, the legislation already exists to prevent people riding motor vehicles, cars or motorcycles, electrically driven or petrol driven illegally, on roads, or anywhere else for that matter. The problem is it isn’t being enforced. Thousands of people do it routinely every day. Should the police chase such a person to enforce these laws, they become the bad guys. Being almost hit by a bicycle electrically assisted or not, whilst walking along the pavement is an almost daily occurrence for me. If a person riding a bicycle electrically assisted or not, causes an accident in which a person is badly injured or their property destroyed. Should the police be able to trace that person and call them to account for their actions? Would a registration scheme that encompasses all wheeled vehicles assist them greatly in identifying that person? Of course such a system would cost a lot of money to set up and administrate, so the government won’t do that. To appease the Daily Mail readers, they’ll pass more legislation that won’t be enforced.

The problem is manufacturers, have thrown a blanket name over all of these things of ebike. If they put them in separate categories, that would be much to the advantage of the public. I’m afraid that shit may have sailed long ago, though, so now on both sides of the pond, we will have to put up with regulations.

It gets worse. Now there are calls to legislate even unpowered bicycles. A cack-handed attempt to deal with problems caused by the lazy, indiscriminate blanket rollout of 20mph zones.

what is the speed limit of bikes, electric or otherwise, in bike lanes ?

Essentially, speed kills and it is speed that the UK Government is primary concerned about. The UK Law dose not treat an (EPAC) "electrically assisted pedal cycles" any differently than an ordinary bicycle and all ebikes are treated as motorcycles. The EV industry has failed, but the ebike is a success, so manufactures are exploiting loopholes in ebike laws to rebrand motorcycles as ebikes. It is the "electric motorcycle industry" or ebike industry, that the UK Law is targeting and not the UK consumer.

They should be more worried about the deaths caused by a certain medical intervention.

the loser pigs in Canada pulled me over on my kaabo wolf king and said I cant ride it anymore after 4000km and 2 years riding it with no problems

You mentioned nothing about the fire and battery explosion risks that are reported in the media which may be another argument to get bikes banned

Electric personal transport in various forms is simply too useful for it to be banned so we have to find a way to integrate it safely into our traffic system. (However, I have no suggestions as to how to do it!)

The government has to look like it is doing something about this problem. This is why they introduce new laws. So they can then say we have dealt with this problem. Unfortunately they do not enforce any of these laws old or New. It just gives the impression they have done something.

Yes your right.. Leave ebikes alone ..Have all bikes registered, then they will all be responsible for their actions (running red lights/riding over pedestrian crossings its an endless list) and it will be easer to spot the illegal riders. Just like you know it's a pit bike not a road bike?

If local councils realise that most kids love motorcycles and actually allocated areas for that just like they do with football tennis etc that would be a step in the right direction..just my thoughts on that,..I'm looking at converting my mountain bike and would go for a higher power , would not mean I'll be going 40mph but more about getting the most ride time, would i be happy to pay tax insurance and number plate lights etc no i would not, a surron or similar i would say yes it would be appropriate.

Outrageous …really don’t understand the agenda to ban electric bikes, especially with the war on cars

It's a tricky subject isn't it.... my mate has a ebike and it's so much fun and we ride off road but I see alot of modified electric bikes flying about and they don't pedal in Sheffield total disregard for anyone else......

Whole Cyclists community (pedal power only) get a bad wrap whenever an incident occur e.g. some 'cyclist' speed through red light or crash into a pedestrian while riding on pavement. The problem is "car drivers" expect "other" road users to be like them i.e. "insurance and license pate" and these argument will never stop until it is enforced like some "car centric" states in America. If the government want "other mode of transports" to include "insurance and license pate", but they really have to formalise "traffic services" too. Treating bike theft to the same level as car theft, treating LBS same as getting an MOT and thus licensed, VIN like numbering systems for bike frames, adjusting "existing traffic cam" to look out for standardise plate mounts for bicycles, these bikes should be allowed to go upto 30mph (throttled, not pedalec) if you did your CBT. Also there are no limiters for "cars" when going above motorway speed. Does that mean ebike can be unrestricted on the lower end of the speed scale? "insurance and license pate" for bicycles, ebike (pedalec) and other mode of transport, good luck with that.

nice one for speaking out mr knox

Simple the Law should concentrate on the real problem. If they have to have a law, simple Liability Insurance is the only real question, that could be imposed if a claim, an offence not to have been covered. You could cut all the red tape, simply you have a claim against you it is an offence to not have had prior cover.

Excellent synopsis.

Well said Paul

It's obvious the Government want cars out of the reach of average people, so they will turn to bikes BUT the revenue generated through tax, insurance and MOT will be lost. I can pretty much guarantee they will want that money from some where i.e bike tax, insurance and MOT's!!

I’m a Bike Sprinter or was anyway.I however can still peak just over 1300w for a few seconds so i am probably just as dangerous.E-Bikes and E-motorbikes are two completely different things although a few weeks ago I had to really try hard to catch a Uber lad on his Trek MTB.A brief conversation at the junction confirmed it was modified.There was talk at our club that British cycling were talking about registering even pedal bikes with or without motors.This here is just the clueless media trouble causing,worse than government these savages.

Actually I've no objection at all to registration & insurance being required for e-bikes, the way the legal ones get ridden round here on shared paths with pedestrians someone's going to get injured, & an uninsured 14 year old isn't going to be able to pay appropriate compensation *without* having insurance, nor are most other riders. For anyone saying "it's a low risk" I'd ask So what? If it is then the insurance will carry a low premium, just like it does for me to get cover on my push-bike, which I do voluntarily anyway.

You know what threatens my life almost daily, every time I am on my bike? Cars! I take it that since e-bikes are so dangerous and given cars are much bigger, faster and heavier, we will also be banning those!

Governments solution to everything tax it

I got an electric mountain bike. Got insurance on it for public liability. Did a lot of miles to work and back, not now as too far, job change but still got insurance, Pays if it is nicked. 16.7mph on the screen before it stops but done nothing too. Bosch system. 250W. Had the thing off and sent off up North to get sorted, Was noisy and worn out. 12000 miles over 4 and a bit years. Now a goodun again. Even paid for rides or not paid (did one 2 sundays ago) dont mind if a legal bike. Thought when I see the boys video. electric bike, I think not. Complete dodgy, sad but should not have been on the thing. Electric scooter, You know and got!. when they are allowed that will be a standard like the bikes. Bet that will be a little number plate and insurance. A licence like the 50cc chicken chaser, Interesting to see how they go.

Our country essentially criminalises young male behaviour.

People have died because of ebikes…so ban them! By the same token you must ban all motorcycles and all cars. Complainers need to get frikkin real.

The governments answer to any issue is always…. - “I Ban It, or introduce over complicated and overly oppressive new laws to control it” [even though laws to control the illegal behaviour already exist] The result is always the same, the criminal people carry on doing what they want anyway, while the responsible people have to jump through hoops just to maintain something that wasn’t causing a problem in the 1st place. Banning Gun ownership sounds great until you learn that there are more illegal guns on the street now that ever in recorded history, Banning knives sound great until to realise that you can’t now even carry a multitool because it has a 2inch locking blade or even have one in the front cab of you car. They have done the same with air rifles… something designed to shoot rats and small vermin are now treated the same as something that could be used to fight in a war. It has nothing to do with controlling bad behaviour, it is just political posturing to look good so to stay in office and get re-elected. [look at us, we have introduced these new laws so to prove that we are actually doing something, don’t forget to tick the right box at the next election]

Well that's great I've just bought my first legal ebike on Friday. It will be getting sold if I need tax etc. 😢. BTW numbers plates won't stop the idiots racing about on them. Where I live they ride pit bikes on the road without a care.

So the government should I have to tax / insure & have a license. Every e pedal cyclists I have seen is faster than some of my mopeds & I have never seen one actually stop at traffic lights or actually ride on the road thay jump on the FOOTPATH & back to the road & never abide by the law or highway code that's before we look at just pedal cyclists in the last 4 years I have seen only 4 stop at pedestrian lights or any traffic lights & 1 was on KZfaq.

Ban normal electric bikes & i will be one of those going to prison. Just like the poll tax.

its all about the $$$ Don’t believe the hype . good video just subscribed

they are not missing any target at all. wake up to the fact they don't want you to have the ability to travel and do not want you whizzing around on an electric bike in your 15 minute city realising you cant go anywhere as it only takes 3 minutes to ride around it. but before we get to that they will come up with as many ways as possible to charge you for the pleasure

Why were the anti ebike stories on the news because powerful forces wanted the public to be anti ebike. All ebike crimes could be and historically has been committed on foot, cycle, motorcycle or automobile. This is big oil and big car fighting back.

A licence plate and insurance won't stop deaths. People who don't care about the law will still ride dangerously. E-Bikes must be pedal assist, output no more than 350watts peak and 250watts under normal use, and finally be limited to 15mph assistance. I ask you, what's wrong with that? Anything faster or more powerful IS an electric motorbike. It's probably to tax cyclists.

my e bikeis inshord like fully comp

I thought this was a wonderful video Paul.

It's tricky. Personaly, I'd be happy to pay a small tax - say £25 per year to use the roads. After all, if I'm using them in a small way I think it's only fair that I contribute to their upkeep in a small way too. As for insurance, again no bad thing to have some liability insurance as long as it's not too costly. Oh, and while they're at they should introduce manditory third party liability insurance for dogs! I learnt a long time ago to never swerve to avoid a dog on a busy road 🤕

WARNING: A LOT of claimed UK road legal 250w 15.5 mph bikes you can buy are STILL ILLEGAL, because they have 48v battery systems. 36volts is the legal battery limit…stupid I know, but there it is and an over zealous copper could get you prosecuted on the weight of that alone!

I think bikes in general should need insurance as if a bike hits a car or motorcycle they should be liable. I ride a motorcycle and some of those idiots on push bikes ride bad, like jumping red lights and no obeying any rules at all. So yea everyone should pay for insurance.

If electric cars need tax and plates so should bikes IMHO

ANY road user SHOULD pay TAX, MOT and Insurance, full stop. I have been a motorcyclist for many years - I got my first bike at age 18 back in the 70's-80's

E bikes should be classed as mopeds or other motorcycles.They must be equiped with all the same requirements for use on the road as other road users who ride mopeds, motorbikes and cars.This includes reg plates and lights,indicators,brake/side lights aswell and mirrors.Riders must first do CBT and the motorcycle test.Then they will have to pay insurance and have their electric bikes MOT`d like everyone else has to.E bikes should be under exactly under the same legislation as Motorbikes and cars.

Governments immediate reaction to one or two people dying from anything is always to effectively ban it, absolutely ridiculous get this lot out of number 10. If they did that the ebike market would die overnight and there would be millions of ebikes around the country sat in peoples gardens not being touched. Because what would be the point going around on a 250w legal bike if it was legally treated the same as a 150mph motorcycle. A lot of people ride them just because you don't need a license or anything like that.

Any bikes that jumps the Red light are the real problem .