Authorities are waking up...

[RustyMTB]

Sure. Sometimes in risk management, you present a solution to a risk that has almost zero probability of happening, just to cover off anyone going down that path.

 

[Vision_Tim]

OP is a shit stirrer, sometimes a troll for whatever reason. I'm pretty sure he got what he wanted out of this.

 

[Joecrow]

With UK riding access laws so easily swayed. Support him in the UK at your own peril.

Sure. Sometimes in risk management, you present a solution to a risk that has almost zero probability of happening, just to cover off anyone going down that path.

It's not at all clear to me what solution you are presenting or indeed what you believe the risk is!
What you need to understand is that the countryside in the UK has a massive wealth of bridal-ways, trails, green roads and public footpaths with historic rights of way for various forms of transport. Currently pedalecs are categorized as bicycles which are permitted on pretty much everything except public footpaths which are for pedestrians only. The worry is, according to friends and relatives in the UK who are regular EMTB riders (being a resident in Germany I only get a chance to ride in the UK on my occasional visits), that the UK government might decide to designate all forms of e-bikes as motor vehicles as a way to regulate the currently illegal and unrestricted electric vehicles masquerading as pedalecs and as knee jerk reaction to the bad publicity surrounding their use in crime and anti-social behavior. In that case EMTBs would only be allowed on the green roads, same as motocross motor bikers and the 4 wheel drive off road brigade. It should be noted that the UK does not currently allow e-scooters to be used outside of private land except for a few city based trial hire schemes on the basis that they need to asses the safety and they don't comply to any current vehicle category. Inevitably there will be new legislation and e-scooters will be categarised and registered as a motor vehicle requiring a number plate, tax, insurance, etc. same as in most other countries in Europe. It would not take much to add pedalec categories covering all e-bikes to that new legislation rather than having them all lumped together as tax free "bicycles", imo. Whether the UK vehicle registration centre in Swansea could handle such a huge new demand is another question but it could be a long time coming.

 

[irie]

It's not at all clear to me what solution you are presenting or indeed what you believe the risk is!
What you need to understand is that the countryside in the UK has a massive wealth of bridal-ways, trails, green roads and public footpaths with historic rights of way for various forms of transport. Currently pedalecs are categorized as bicycles which are permitted on pretty much everything except public footpaths which are for pedestrians only. The worry is, according to friends and relatives in the UK who are regular EMTB riders (being a resident in Germany I only get a chance to ride in the UK on my occasional visits), that the UK government might decide to designate all forms of e-bikes as motor vehicles as a way to regulate the currently illegal and unrestricted electric vehicles masquerading as pedalecs and as knee jerk reaction to the bad publicity surrounding their use in crime and anti-social behavior. In that case EMTBs would only be allowed on the green roads, same as motocross motor bikers and the 4 wheel drive off road brigade. It should be noted that the UK does not currently allow e-scooters to be used outside of private land except for a few city based trial hire schemes on the basis that they need to asses the safety and they don't comply to any current vehicle category. Inevitably there will be new legislation and e-scooters will be categarised and registered as a motor vehicle requiring a number plate, tax, insurance, etc. same as in most other countries in Europe. It would not take much to add pedalec categories covering all e-bikes to that new legislation rather than having them all lumped together as tax free "bicycles", imo. Whether the UK vehicle registration centre in Swansea could handle such a huge new demand is another question but it could be a long time coming.

Very well put, quality post.