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20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.

16 Jun 2025

The ACT has welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking's report "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes", which calls for urgent Government action to...

11 Jun 2025

A new academic study has found that overzealous pro-cycling campaigners on social media may be inadvertently damaging the case for better cycling infrastructure across the UK.

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street...

10 Jun 2025

Bike thefts across England and Wales have continued their steady decline, according to new data released by cycle insurance specialist Bikmo.

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring...

9 Jun 2025

 To coincide with Bike Week (9-15 June) – the UK’s annual celebration of cycling – new research has revealed a clear shift amongst Gen Z and Millennials in their approach...

6 Jun 2025

Independent retailers are facing a "generational" transformation of employment law that could fundamentally change how small businesses operate, according to the final episode of Bira's first...

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ACT urges IBDs to register opposition to proposed government changes to ebike regulations before deadline expires.

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

The Association of Cycle Traders is urging cycle retailers to register their opposition to proposed government changes to e-bike regulations before the consultation closes on April 25th.

Ebike battery

The proposed changes governing EAPCs (Electrically assisted pedal cycles) could see a doubling in the power of e-bikes to 500W and allowing ebikes to be ridden without the need for the rider to pedal. This, the ACT believes, will be to the detriment of cyclists as well as retailers and need to be strongly opposed.

“The ACT are strongly opposed to the introduction of these measures,” says Jonathan Harrison from the ACT. “If these proposals get the green light, they could have a very serious impact on our industry and so we urge those in the bike industry to register their opposition and respond now!”

The Bicycle Association has collated a series of response templates that are ready for use, and which can be accessed here

Alternatively, cycle retailers can simply email EAPCConsultation@dft.gov.uk and include the text “I oppose both proposed changes to the EAPC regulations”.

“We remain unconvinced there’s either a clear need or demand for any of these proposed changes,” continues Harrison. “Now is the time for the industry to come together, stand united and say that these proposed changes are unacceptable.”

Current EAPC regulations set out the requirements an EAPC must meet to fall outside the definition of motor vehicle and to be treated as a cycle. Currently, the requirements are that the cycle must be fitted with pedals that can propel it; the maximum continuous rated power of the electric motor must not exceed 250 watts, and that electrical assistance must cut off when the vehicle reaches 15.5mph (25km/h).

However, the government proposes to amend the legal definition of how EAPCs are classified so that the maximum continuous rated power of the electric motor must not exceed 500 watts instead of 250 watts. It also wants to allow ‘twist and go’ EAPCs to have throttle assistance up to 15.5mph (25km/h) without the need for type approval. The government says that e-cycles with increased power and throttle assistance in line with the proposed changes would be classified as EAPCs and would, therefore, be able to use the same infrastructure as pedal cycles, including cycle lanes, tracks and other cycle facilities.

This consultation will run until 11:59pm on 25 April 2024. To participate in the consultation, click here.

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