Electric Scooters

[Aidy P]

I read today that an e-scooter rider is being done for drunken driving and no insurance after falling off his scooter in Hyde Park on Boxing Day. Apparently he was carrying his dog whilst riding and managed to break the dogs leg in the accident.

Poor dog. Some people are just idiots.
Would have probably fallen off his bike though too if drunk.

 

[ArunAlec]

Poor dog. Some people are just idiots.
Would have probably fallen off his bike though too if drunk.

True, but the thing I thought was interesting was that he was being done for not having insurance which, unless I’m mistaken would not have been the case if riding a electric bike. Drink driving, obviously applies but insurance?
I would be wary of using a e-scooter on the the road (until properly legal) if there’s potential for a fine and points on your licence.

 

[Lightning]

True, but the thing I thought was interesting was that he was being done for not having insurance which, unless I’m mistaken would not have been the case if riding a electric bike. Drink driving, obviously applies but insurance?
I would be wary of using a e-scooter on the the road (until properly legal) if there’s potential for a fine and points on your licence.

Only for the case where the ebike power output is over 250W you would need insurance and a driving licence. You can buy ebikes over 250W legally in the UK.

 

[Amarillo]

Drink driving, obviously applies but insurance?

The offence of cycling while drunk is similar to drunk and disorderly. Basically, unless you are so drunk that you cannot ride a bicycle you should be fine - legally.

 

[Louis II]

Only for the case where the ebike power output is over 250W you would need insurance and a driving licence. You can buy ebikes over 250W legally in the UK.

Might be wrong but I thought the important distinction was powered vs assisted. Ie the scooter is powered as it just goes when you push a button but an ebike is only assisted because you need to turn the pedals to trigger the motor.

 

[Lightning]

Might be wrong but I thought the important distinction was powered vs assisted. Ie the scooter is powered as it just goes when you push a button but an ebike is only assisted because you need to turn the pedals to trigger the motor.

What counts as an EAPC​

An EAPC must have pedals that can be used to propel it.

It must show either:

• the power output
• the manufacturer of the motor

It must also show either:

• the battery’s voltage
• the maximum speed of the bike

Its electric motor:

• must have a maximum power output of 250 watts
• should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15.5mph

An EAPC can have more than 2 wheels (for example, a tricycle).

Electric bikes: licensing, tax and insurance

Electric bikes meeting the EAPC regulations can be ridden on the road without being taxed, licensed or insured

www.gov.uk

 

[soulstyledevon]

The offence of cycling while drunk is similar to drunk and disorderly. Basically, unless you are so drunk that you cannot ride a bicycle you should be fine - legally.

I remember a few years ago. A friend and I were having a bad day at work. So we sacked off the afternoon and hit the pub. 8 hrs later I rode the bike home.
The only thing I remember was being woke up by an elder couple down a country lane home who were ringing for an ambulance. I was very embarrassed and started peddling.
Bless them, they followed me all the way home to make sure I got back OK.

Bloody great day that, I think...

 

[Mickyb123]

riding a cycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal under British law and can result in a max fine of £1000, courts also have the legal right to remove your driving licence for a cycling offence, they cannot issue points though.

 

[Amarillo]

riding a cycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal under British law and can result in a max fine of £1000, courts also have the legal right to remove your driving licence for a cycling offence, they cannot issue points though.

You can get eight points on your driving licence by cycling equipped to steal a car. (As a contrast, kill a cyclist with your car and you’d be awarded four points on your licence.)

 

[Corradobrit]

(As a contrast, kill a cyclist with your car and you’d be awarded four points on your licence.)

Moving target= double points

 

[Aidy P]

Sometimes you create a thread and realise you’ve created a monster

 

[Corradobrit]

E-scooters must follow rules of road 'same as bus'

A woman banned from the roads for drink-driving an e-scooter is told the same rules and penalties apply.

www.bbc.com

 

[soulstyledevon]

E-scooter rider stopped driving up M1 with no lights in ‘pitch black’

‘Pitch black, raining, poor visibility = a recipe for disaster.'

www.google.co.uk

 

[Mickyb123]

What an absolute idiot

 

[Corradobrit]

Could have been worse.

Pensioner caused traffic jam by driving mobility scooter on a MOTORWAY

The OAP - believed to be 88 - was spotted in the fast lane on the motorised buggy which can only do 6mph in the Julio Luengo tunnel in Las Palmas on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Amarillo]

What an absolute idiot

Until quite recently it was perfectly acceptable to cycle through the Blackwall Tunnel, so long as you did so on an electric bike or moped, not a normal bike.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

 

[Mickyb123]

Not sure how that matches with the m1

electrical assisted bicycles are under same rules as bicycles, so I would suggest that an electrical assisted bike is not permitted on a road where cycles are prohibited.
A moped is a different beast

 

[Amarillo]

Not sure how that matches with the m1

Until TfL took over from the Department of Transport, the Blackwall Tunnel had the designation A102(M). It was a motorway with cycling permitted on mopeds.

 

[Mickyb123]

Mopeds are not cycles. M1 is a 3 lane m way, where very occasionally speeds of 70mph are capable every now and again.
Blackwall tunnel max speed is 30mph, photo posted clearly show cycles prohibited this includes electric assisted bicycles. Mopeds are not bicycles, you cannot cycle on a moped.

Despite some maps showing the full route from Hackney Wick to Kidbrooke as motorway, including the river crossing itself, neither the tunnels themselves nor the northern approach road were ever part of the motorway.

designation of moped changed in 1977, it at that point it could be driven by pedals or the motor, mopeds since that date are no longer pedal driven, moped definition is designated now by speed and engine size restrictions. Main difference with cycle and moped being to ride a moped you need a driving licence, tax insurance, as per any other motorcycle and legally have to wear a helmet. mopeds are classed as motorised vehicles even pre 77, even though they can be propelled by pedal or engine.

 

[Califorian]

Is the 'ped' in moped not a reference to pedal?

Bring back the NSU Quickly!

 

[Aidy P]

This article defines the differences between hired and bought scooters and the risks ...

E-scooters must follow rules of road 'same as bus' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55719218

 

[Amarillo]

Mopeds are not bicycles, you cannot cycle on a moped.

This is the only bit of your detailed response I take issue with. There are some mopeds which can be cycled. And the sign at the Blackwall Tunnel clearly indicates that it would be lawful to cycle a moped through the tunnel.

I wonder if a C5 could be lawfully cycled through?

 

[WelshGas]

A moped I used to have was pedalled to start only. Once engine started then the pedals were disengaged.

 

[andyinluton]

This is the only bit of your detailed response I take issue with. There are some mopeds which can be cycled. And the sign at the Blackwall Tunnel clearly indicates that it would be lawful to cycle a moped through the tunnel.

I wonder if a C5 could be lawfully cycled through?

If you wan't to be pedantic the sign at the Blackwell tunnel doesn't say you can cycle a moped through the tunnel I just says its legal to take a moped through, the manor of propulsion isn't mentioned.
If you were to try peddling I would suspect that they would assume you have broken down & send the recovery truck at your expense.

No you cant pedal a C5 through as that's an electrical assisted bicycle & bikes are banned.

This is about the last moped built with pedals - good luck peddling it far in the event of running out of fuel it was quicker & easier to get off & push.

 

[Amarillo]

A moped I used to have was pedalled to start only. Once engine started then the pedals were disengaged.

Could it be cycled with the engine disengaged? My dad used to commute into London on a 25cc moped in the 70s. His bike could be cycled.