French mayor warns holidaymakers over illegal electric bikes (1 Viewer)

[scotjimland]

This being true I agree with the Mayor>>>

France’s notoriously reckless drivers often come under fire over its high number of road deaths, but holidaymakers are now facing a new danger: speeding cyclists riding illegally souped-up electric bikes.

The modified e-bikes are terrifying pedestrians and conventional cyclists.

They are capable of reaching 30 miles per hour without pedalling, double the speed limit for electric bicycles in France.

Owners are boosting the power of their e-bikes themselves by following online instructions that explain how to make the relatively simple adaptations required.

The alarm has been raised by Lionel Quillet, the conservative mayor of Loix, on the Île de Ré, a popular family holiday destination where the bicycle is king.

The island off France’s west coast has more than 70 miles of cycle paths although it is only 18 miles long by 3 miles wide.

In summer, about 6,000 bikes a day pass through some sections of the island, many ridden by children.

After a number of accidents, Mr Quillet said souped-up e-bikes should be banned from cycle paths.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/04/french-mayor-warns-holidaymakers-illegal-electric-bikes/

 

[Duke Ato]

Inevitably, this type of activity will spoil the legitimate use of e bikes by forcing authorities to impose restrictions, potential tax and further bureaucracy !

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Inevitably, this type of activity will spoil the legitimate use of e bikes by forcing authorities to impose restrictions, potential tax and further bureaucracy !

Those restrictions are already in place across the entire EU, including here. That's the point, eBikes that can achieve those speeds are illegal in public places as are all twist and go models.

 

[pappajohn]

Confiscation and destruction if used in public places... Or are the authorities to afraid of any backlash.

 

[Lenny HB]

Those restrictions are already in place across the entire EU, including here. That's the point, eBikes that can achieve those speeds are illegal in public places as are all twist and go models.

Only illegal if not registered and insured as a motor vehicle. But it's a fair guess most won't be.

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[Deleted member 29692]

Only illegal if not registered and insured as a motor vehicle. But it's a fair guess most won't be.

I’d be amazed if any of them are.

Too fast to be an ebike, far too slow and boring to be a motorcycle. If you have to register and insure it as a motorcycle and then meet licence, road law and safety requirements you just wouldn’t bother. You’d buy a real bike instead

 

[tonyidle]

Only illegal if not registered and insured as a motor vehicle. But it's a fair guess most won't be.

Only illegal if not registered and insured as a motor vehicle. But it's a fair guess most won't be.

It's a fair guess most can't be. In the UK at least they'd need to meet motorcycle C & U Regs and if home built or adapted pass a SVA inspection. Commercially available ones are either electric scooters or, if bicycles, are sold marked for off-road use only. They exist on roads and pavements because there aren't any Police around to stop them.

 

[gus-lopez]

eBikes that can achieve those speeds are illegal in public places as are all twist and go models

Not those in use , in the UK, bought prior to regulation change 2016.

Only illegal if not registered and insured as a motor vehicle. But it's a fair guess most won't be.

Not possible here.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not those in use , in the UK, bought prior to regulation change 2016.

Nope, the 25 kmh limit has always been there the law change was banning twist & go throttles.

 

[Ridgeway]

The 45kmh bikes are getting more and more popular here:

Anything above 25kmh needs a license plate (see the one on the rear mudguard above), pay tax and have insurance although helmets are not obligatory. Most people seem to use them for long range bike commutes, 10-20km each way sort of thing. They aren't cheap though, seem to be around £2500-3500.

I often ride along with them on my push bike until they open up the throttle and disappear into the horizon

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[denisejoe]

Saw a couple of German bikes that had no plates on in France

 

[Anthea M]

I have an E bike but have to peddle at all times and I only ever use it on the 1st bar. It is supposed to do up to 15 MPH but I never reach that and always stop when passing near pedestrians sauntering 4 abreast on a cycle track!

 

[PORKSTER]

In Italy Chioggia infact there was a style of electric bike very popular no plate on them but boy they was fast no helmets worn no lights
Edit to show pics

 

[gus-lopez]

Nope, the 25 kmh limit has always been there the law change was banning twist & go throttles.

yes ,I was only referring to the twist & go being legal.
Didn't realise there was an actual 25knh limit. I can pedal mine on minimum assistance far faster than that & it hasn't been modified ?

 

[Chris]

Where can I buy one?

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[Pete5996]

yes ,I was only referring to the twist & go being legal.
Didn't realise there was an actual 25knh limit. I can pedal mine on minimum assistance far faster than that & it hasn't been modified ?

The motor will cut out and provide no further assistance when you reach 25kph - you're quite entitled to pedal faster if you wish

 

[tacr2man]

Some are very quick !!

 

[EuroTrotters]

Nothing more dangerous than using many cycle lanes in France where professional race rider practice and train.

They come at you at speeds way in excess of 50kph, downhill, even faster still. But the riders also ride in groups. They shot passed my young Grandson at silly speed last summer. If they had clipped each other or lost control, there would have been some serious injuries.

France needs to concentrate more on its Drivers.

A law was passed a few years ago that stated, if a pedestrian signals to cross at a pedestrian crossing, any driver must stop immediately. Try that in St. Tropez, many will beep and carry on driving.
Yet when I am driving, I see French people just walk out, no stopping, no looking out to see whats coming. Just out in-front chatting away...................

And In Annecy a couple of years ago, walking along a road with no pavement/sidewalk, facing the flow of traffic like you ares supposed to. We had to cross the onto the opposite side (traffic behind us) briefly, to get to the access for the boat.

Some TW4T in a French registered car, with no cars coming towards him. Decided, rather than give us a wide berth, he would drive as close as he could and in the process, ripped my shoulder bag off with his winger mirror whilst beeping his horn. But, if he had not driven off, and we could of got near the 4kerr. all hell would have broke loose.

Speed restrictions for cyclists when not on actual roads.

 

[Stephen23240]

They are also restricted by EU law to motors of 250 watts.

 

[houdini]

Some are very quick !!

What speed did he get up to then? The trouble is pedestrians and drivers will not realise how quickly he will reach them when calculating crossing the road, or pulling out and joining that road.

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[Ukbandit]

yes ,I was only referring to the twist & go being legal.
Didn't realise there was an actual 25knh limit. I can pedal mine on minimum assistance far faster than that & it hasn't been modified ?

Twist and go is only illegal on new models, my bike was built before 2016 with a throttle and Its perfectly legal.

 

[Khizzie]

Confiscation and destruction if used in public places... Or are the authorities to afraid of any backlash.

Mustn't upset the holier than thou..

 

[gus-lopez]

Twist and go is only illegal on new models, my bike was built before 2016 with a throttle and Its perfectly legal.

Post no:8

Not those in use , in the UK, bought prior to regulation change 2016.



Not possible here.

What I said .the other was a reply regarding speed

 

[Lenny HB]

Twist and go is only illegal on new models, my bike was built before 2016 with a throttle and Its perfectly legal.

Only in the UK other countries brought in the law 2 or 3 years before the uk.

 

[csd4t]

Owners are boosting the power of their e-bikes themselves by following online instructions that explain how to make the relatively simple adaptations required.

Really? How? Where?

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[scotjimland]

Really? How? Where?

I didn't say it.. so how would I possibly know.. ?

I didn't write it.. It's a news item.

try Googling

Owners are boosting the power of their e-bikes themselves by following online instructions that explain how to make the relatively simple adaptations required.


.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/04/french-mayor-warns-holidaymakers-illegal-electric-bikes/

 

[ambulancekidd]

I've got a notion on an electric bike that is marked "Off Road Use Only" but its only off road in the countryside surrounding my home where I want to use it.
Tis easy enough to pop into the jalopy & take it to the places I want to visit.
I just want to be able to visit the places where I could go prior to being crippled by arthritis.

I have to say though that what these bikes can do is properly scary & the thought of someone using one in a town or city is properly scary.

 

[Lenny HB]

Really? How? Where?

For Bosch powered bikes you can by a dongle to update the software.

And you can be legal providing you register and insure the bike. Only fly in the ointment DVLA won't have a clue what you are talking about.

 

[Ukbandit]

I've got a notion on an electric bike that is marked "Off Road Use Only" but its only off road in the countryside surrounding my home where I want to use it.
Tis easy enough to pop into the jalopy & take it to the places I want to visit.
I just want to be able to visit the places where I could go prior to being crippled by arthritis.

I have to say though that what these bikes can do is properly scary & the thought of someone using one in a town or city is properly scary.

Why would it be scary, I’ve been riding a motorbike with a 1600cc engine and 180 bhp through many towns and cities without scaring anyone.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Why would it be scary, I’ve been riding a motorbike with a 1600cc engine and 180 bhp through many towns and cities without scaring anyone.

I've owned many motorcycles, some scary, some not. What I was saying is that cycles aren't properly geared up to do high speeds in towns, pedestrians & drivers have no way of knowing that you might be doing high speed.

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