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17 Jan 2025

The ACT has teamed up with employment law, HR, and health and safety experts WorkNest as the association's new legal partner.

10 Jan 2025

The ACT have presented a formal complaint to the BBC, with Director Jonathan Harrison claiming the program was misrepresentative and made "incorrect claims about regulations".

9 Jan 2025

ACT parent company Bira has warned that disappointing footfall figures for December show mounting pressures on independent retailers, with concerning implications for 2025 as business costs...

18 Dec 2024

Director of the ACT Jonathan Harrison has praised the "resilience and adaptability" of the ACT and its members in an end of year message.

17 Dec 2024

UK bicycle retailers are set to benefit from a groundbreaking partnership between the ACT and Bikmo Cycle Insurance, offering a new revenue stream and competitive edge in the increasingly...

16 Dec 2024

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new policy aimed at tackling the issue of irresponsible dockless e-bike and e-scooter parking across designated areas of London.

13 Dec 2024

The Government has published new statutory guidelines to help businesses produce and distribute safe e-bike batteries and reduce the risk of unsafe products being sold online or as part of a...

5 Dec 2024

A former British cyclist, a host of CEOs and industry leaders are sharing their thoughts on the future of the cycling industry as part of a revealing new series launched by the Ride to Success...

4 Dec 2024

As credit card fraud becomes increasingly sophisticated, taking these steps could help you stay ahead of the fraudsters…

29 Nov 2024

Scottish independent retailers, including those in the cycling sector, are urging the Scottish Government to provide crucial business rates relief in its upcoming budget, as the disparity in...

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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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