softy wrote:outnabike wrote:I reckon your wrong there.
45 klm on a shared path is too dangerous for the kids that gravitate to such bikes.
Yep we use the analogy of "Good Riders can do 45 kph" and then extrapolate that to folks who cant get past 30 kph on a good day on a bike.
Then we don't mind them doing 45 as we think it is the law and permitted. I just reckon that the younger risk takers wont care less and simply zoom around peds and not be concerned at all.
I know they are in the minority but the dills on the small motorbikes that killed that lady in Carrum Downs in Vic are just the tip of the iceberg.
No way would they ride a bike that makes them work. 45 kph will suite them fine on the paths, and like they did to cyclists at Carrum Downs, they will play chicken with cyclists on the paths,and buzz the peds.
Year a good cyclist will slow when appropriate, and he works hard to speed up again.Not so a pedelec.
If these things get a 45 kph limit that's ok but then limit them to the road. It is where most people would take them I would say.
I think you need to ride a commercial pedelec, they are not motorbikes, they assist. everyone forgets they are a heavy lump at around 25kg. I think you will be surprised they are not that much faster than a serious road bike due to the weight difference. Where pedelec are great is maintain speed up hills, it is 5 to 10km higher. otherwise they are not a lot different than a normal bike.
All commercial Pedelecs should be a heavy lump at 25kph, but most will do about 34 to 45 kph, and many have a throttle. If the police catch you on one, they probably won't do anything, but if something goes wrong and the bike gets tested, there will be a lot of trouble for riding unlicensed.
Anyway, Perth laws for MrStroppy... You can ride a PAPC to 200W ( will do about 25 kph ) or a Pedelec to 250W ( Will do about 20-23 kph ). Both are legal. So are sub-200W petrol.
I too need assist to ride -
I have a 200W electric and a small generator though, so my daily commutes of 52km aren't too bad.
Anyway, here's a breakdown of the laws for powered cycles in Perth.
Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008, current 15 May 2015.
motor vehicle —
(a) in relation to authorisation to drive, means a vehicle that is built to be propelled by a motor that forms part of the vehicle;
(b) otherwise, means a selfpropelled vehicle that is not operated on rails and —
(i) includes a trailer, semitrailer or caravan while attached to the vehicle; but
(ii) does not include a power assisted pedal cycle;
and
power assisted pedal cycle means a vehicle —
(a) designed to be propelled through a mechanism operated solely by human power; and
(b) to which is attached one or more auxiliary propulsion motors having a combined maximum output not exceeding the amount of power prescribed for the purposes of this definition;
The power prescribed for the purposes refers to the Road Traffic (Administration) Regulations 2014 current 14 Nov 2015 which states;
4. Power assisted pedal cycles
(1) In this regulation —
pedalec means a vehicle that meets the standard of the European Committee for Standardization entitled EN 15194:2009 or EN 15194:2009+A1:2011 Cycles — Electrically power assisted cycles — EPAC Bicycles.
(2) For the definition of power assisted pedal cycle in section 4, the amount of power is —
(a) for a pedalec — 250 W; and
(b) for any other kind of power assisted pedal cycle — 200 W.
The Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 current 01 Jul 2015 that you have referenced is also important to this matter and states;
228. Application
This Part does not apply to any of these vehicles —
(a) a vehicle used only on a railway or tramway;
(b) a vehicle designed to be controlled by a person walking next to it;
(c) a bicycle;
(d) any vehicle (other than a power assisted pedal cycle) propelled by a motor with a maximum power output of not over 200 W;
and;
3. bicycle has the meaning given in the Road Traffic Code 2000 regulation 3(1);
The Road Traffic Code 2000 current 27 April 2016 regulation 3(1) states;
bicycle means a vehicle with 2 or more wheels that is built to be propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary motor) and —
(a) includes a pedicab, pennyfarthing, tricycle and power assisted pedal cycle; but
(b) does not include a wheelchair, wheeled recreational device, wheeled toy or any vehicle (other than a power assisted pedal cycle) with an auxiliary motor capable of generating a power output over 200 watts (whether or not the motor is operating);
Regards
David