E-Bike a letter from Halfords on Cycle to Work scheme

Those in the Cycle to work Scheme with Halfords received this info at the week end.

Extract from the letter:

We believe you're currently using an electric bike within Northern Ireland as part of your participation in your employer's Cycle2work scheme. It's important that you are aware of how your legal responsibilities as an electric bike user are different in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the UK.

It has recently come to light that the UK Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPC) Regulations, which exempt e-bikes from being treated as motorcycles, were not applied in Northern Ireland. This means that riders need to be 17 years old, hold a motorcycle license, register the bike with the DVLA, have insurance and wear a motorcycle helmet. Work is underway to bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK (and the EU) but the legislation has to go through the necessary Assembly approval in order to become law.

As you are a participant in Cycle2work your bike is owned by your employer, who we have contacted to advise of the situation and will keep updated. In the meantime, the DVLA is currently unable to process e-bike registrations so the legal requirements above cannot be met. If you continue to use your e-bike without meeting the legal requirements then you risk

* being found to be riding an unregistered and untaxed motorbike
* being found to be riding without an approved helmet
* receiving a fine and/or points on your driving licence
* any insurance you may have being invalidated

Until this can be resolved and you can fulfill the requirements we suggest that you stop using your bike as an e-bike. You could continue to use the bike as a standard pushbike by removing the battery and using the bike without the battery in place - often this is easily done using the key provided with your bike. There is a short video here<

showing how to do this for Halfords e-bike models and we recommend you still charge the battery periodically to reduce deterioration. If you need further advice on doing this then please give your retailer a call.

You better write a letter to Irene citing a problem with the union. But knowing the shower of money grabbing so and so, here in the south I wouldn't be surprised if the same arosed in 6 months.

Dont hold your breath too long Jack, you can guess how long that we were operating under the old Irish car registration system which has only come in to line with Swansea in the last couple of years. People did not believe me when after moving house I told them they had to go their local car tax office and import their car into England before they could tax it. Maybe some day soon they will come out from under the palm trees and get down to the job they are paid for

I'm always a bit dubious about extracts from letters! , this is a load of rubbish and EU law covered it a good 13 years ago!

--------------------------------------------

The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (No. 2994 (N.I. 18)) - Statute Law Database
The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (No. 2994 (N.I. 18))
Electrically assisted pedal cycles
46. (1) An electrically assisted pedal cycle of a class specified in regulations made for the purposes of Article 6 shall not be driven on a road by a person under the age of 14.
(2) A person who
(a) drives such a pedal cycle; or
(b) knowing or suspecting that another person is under the age of 14, causes or permits him to drive such a pedal cycle,
in contravention of paragraph (1), is guilty of an offence.


The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (No. 2994 (N.I. 18)) - Statute Law Database
Certain vehicles not to be treated as motor vehicles
6. (1) For the purposes of the Road Traffic Orders [F1 or the Offenders Order]
(a) a mechanically propelled vehicle being an implement for cutting grass which is controlled by a pedestrian and is not capable of being used or adapted for any other purpose;
(b) any other mechanically propelled vehicle controlled by a pedestrian which may be prescribed for the purposes of this Article; and
(c) an electrically assisted pedal cycle of such a class as may be so prescribed,
is to be treated as not being a motor vehicle.
(2) In paragraph (1) “controlled by a pedestrian” means that the vehicle either
(a) is constructed or adapted for use only under such control; or
(b) is constructed or adapted for use either under such control or under the control of a person carried on it, but is not for the time being in use under, or proceeding under, the control of a person carried on it.


http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/vehicl…cation.pdf
MSVA does not apply to the following vehicles:
• Vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 6km/h.
• Cycles with pedal assistance which are equipped with an auxiliary electric motor having a maximum continuous rated power of 0.25kW, of which the output is progressively reduced and finally cut off as the vehicle reaches a speed of 25km/h, or sooner, if the cyclist stops pedalling.

For further information on NI Tests
Visit the DVTA website at www.doeni.gov.uk/dvta/ or
• call DVTA Mallusk Testing Centre on 028 9084 2111
For Information on GB tests and test centres
• visit the VOSA website at VOSA corporate website or
• call the VOSA national number on 0870 6060 440.

http://www.dvlni.gov.uk/vehicles/vehicle_forms/MAS_3.pdf


There is a ban on throttled controlled ebikes only as with the rest of the EU .

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/ar…cles#toc-0

I really don't know what to believe , I use mine mostly off road round cycle paths etc so will continue to do so, it was on the BBC this morning as well

The links I posted above were from 2009 in an ebike forum were they were discussing said subject.


If this is all true then it really does beggar belief at how stupid our politicians are , no danger of them putting in legislation incorrectly for RHI boilers eh!

Yes folks it would appear to be true ok, a test is required to ride these on roads,registration and insurance is required and riders risk penalty points on their licence if found to not be properly road legal.
Of course this only applies to Northern Ireland as our politicians have been so busy lately that they have not had time to deal with leglislation to bring us into line with Scotland,England and Wales.

It won't stop me riding mine, how many police check points do you see these days, if it takes them a week to respond to a break in you will have made quite a get away

Is that the new ones with rear end recognition? :shock:

Even thought I don't have a ebike, I've signed it.

Me also

All votes welcome

The more folk vote, the better.

It appears we can use them throughout the whole of Europe except here in Northern Ireland, can go a few miles to the republic and all is fine, so your plan won't work to sell them

Well John, apparently not as there is some new agreement between North & South now in relation to traffic offences etc. What is law for the citizen in Northern Ireland also applies to the South and vice versa. If one is banned from driving up here it automatically applies to the South too.

You mean.........
I'll have to start paying my Northern Ireland parking tickets.....!

I have electric bike and will continue using it, however I will stop doing wheelies, burn outs , mushrooming and not carrying anyone on the bar especially on motorways etc. This is such a horlicks.EU law supersedes N.I. This looks to me as a paper excercise to bring us in line with rest of UK and ROI as we are still in Euope. Never mind what I do, just be sensible don't bring yourself under notice and I can see no problem providing your bike meets with current legislation, in other words a Bonified known bicycle
Happy Days.

Jack , Head down with a wing and a prayer, who needs batteries ?

Everyone who has a ebike should apply to get them mot'd all at once and see what they come up with

Jack. We never had this trouble with the Raleigh Roadster and it 4speed Sturmey Archer with hub dynamo. All made in Nottingham , Sunday afternoon the bike was rubbed down with an oily rag and on with the good suit and you were off to see what was about. I think batteries are spoiling you ! ! !

Not anymore Raleigh has changed ownership hands zonks of time and they don't make any bikes in Nottingham anymore
(except maybe a few special hand made jobs for works riders)

Boots also a shadow company now in Nottingham, Pits all gone Lace industry gone Nottingham is not as I knew it 50years ago