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The speed limitation is down to the fact that they don't need insuring. Like pedal bikes the idea is that they will cause limited injury or damage to property i
by ljf 7y ago
The speed limitation is down to the fact that they don't need insuring. Like pedal bikes the idea is that they will cause limited injury or damage to property in the event of a crash. Up things to 25mph, plus the frame/battery weight needed to add strength and safety to accelerate and brake swiftly, and suddenly you have plenty of energy to damage a car or other piece of property or hurt a human (yes I know cyclists also occasionally hurt humans).
So therefore they will need insurance, and therefore need registration. And guess what, you can ride an electric scooter or bike at the speeds you mentioned, you just need to register and insure it. It is entirely possible and people do.
What you are suggesting is a way to ride fast vehicles without the social contract of insurance and traceability.
- dsfyu404ed 7y agoThe fact that you're suggesting insurance and registration are to be expected for any class of vehicle short of a moped is completely foreign to me.
- wwosik 7y agoIn Switzerland you need it for bikes and they still manage
- dsfyu404ed 7y agoBeing able to "manage" doesn't mean it's not a net negative on society. If everyone was required to insure stuffed animals it would be cheap and perfectly "manageable" because the risk would be so low and the overhead would be spread over society but that overhead would still be pissed away on something non-productive because the net benefit to society of insuring stuffed animals is so small.
- ljf 7y agoYup, it all needs insuring here - even the 35cc autocycle I used to have needed it - but it only needed a cheap daylight mot (no lights, indicators or speedo) and tax was £15 insurance was just £50 at the time. Being hit by a moped could easily cause life changing injuries, so I'm pleased to see them insured.
- smashah 7y agoNo it doesn't. There is already voluntary insurance for (e) cycling here. Making it mandatory for some makes no sense. Ebike is not a moped. Mopeds can go much faster than the proposed limit of 25mph. Mandatory insurance is a band aid.
- monk_e_boy 7y agoI dunno, we have voluntary insurance for kitesurfing. Why not? Insurance companies will do it pretty cheap.
- smashah 7y agoThere is already voluntary insurance for EBikes
- smashah 7y agoWeight is not a good enough argument because you can have a fat guy on a bike (like me) going 25mph under my own power. Allowing someone like me to use a similar speed ebike via throttle allows me to use my energy on concentrating instead of pedalling. By your logic, fat people on bikes should require insurance. Bike lanes are the solution. Not insurance as insurance and registration only deals with something after an accident.