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21 Nov 2024

A local cycling club is raising money and seeking donations and assistance in order to teach bike maintenance to young people through a series of workshops in 2025.

21 Nov 2024

National biking charity Cycling UK has launched a new scheme that recognises office buildings that encourage Cycle to Work and promote sustainable and active travel.

19 Nov 2024

Banning cycling in Birmingham city centre will not prevent the use of illegal electric transport, according to cycling news outlet Cycling Weekly, following reports of...

17 Nov 2024

Bira has held a meeting with members of the Treasury team to discuss concerns following its robust response to the Government’s recent Budget announcement.

14 Nov 2024

The ACT has announced a dynamic partnership with Saledock - an all-in-one POS, eCommerce, and inventory management platform tailor-made for bike shops and workshops.

13 Nov 2024

Award-winning cycling charity, Life Cycle, is excited to announce its new partnership with Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle technicians.

8 Nov 2024

Challenging market conditions due to poor weather and broader economic pressures continue to challenge Halfords, despite positive customer response to its new premium range of bicycles.

7 Nov 2024

Accell Group, owner of Raleigh, Lapierre, Babboe, and other bike brands, has announced that its parts and accessories inventory levels are back to normal, with bike inventory expected to follow...

7 Nov 2024

Torq Zone Academy proudly celebrates 10 years as the pioneering institution for bicycle technician trainingRead more…

6 Nov 2024

Glasgow is set to receive a substantial boost for cycling infrastructure and community facilities, with over £500,000 of funding to be provided to two major projects.

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No clear need or demand for proposed government changes to e-bike regulations, argues Association of Cycle Traders

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

Proposed government changes to regulations and legislation governing EAPCs (Electrically assisted pedal cycles), which 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, will be to the detriment of cyclists as well as retailers and need to be vigorously opposed, the Association of Cycle Traders has said.

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The ACT, whose comments echo similar statements from The Bicycle Association and Cycling UK, argues that the proposed changes would make it harder to clearly define e-bikes from other vehicle types, which should be a matter of concern for both users and retailers.

“We are not convinced there’s either a clear need or demand for any of these proposed changes,” says Jonathan Harrison of the ACT.

“We recently attended a meeting where this topic, along with others, were discussed with the Office Product Safety and Standards and, with other consultations on issues still awaiting government response, we question whether this where the primary focus should be at this time. We are not necessarily averse to a larger power output for e-cargo cycles and their carrying loads or for a throttle, which could help disabled people using adapted cycles, but much greater caution needs to be exercised when proposing such blanket and rather ill-conceived changes. We certainly recommend that ACT members go online and complete the consultation themselves to ensure that all voices are heard in this debate.”

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; have a maximum continuous rated power of the electric motor that must not exceed 250 watts, and that electrical assistance must cut off when the vehicle reaches 15.5mph (25km/h).

However, the government now 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 as set out in the current regulations. 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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