Award winning Go- Cycle
On Wednesday the 30th of September, ETRA (European Twowheel Retailers’ Association) submitted to the European Commission a motivated proposal for changes in the regulations governing pedal assisted cycles, electric bikes and electric mopeds.
To summarise briefly; they have recommended an increase in power for electric assist bikes, but have opted not to allow an increase in speed. They have also created a new category for electric bikes that are throttle controlled and are not pedal assist.
This new category is perhaps the biggest change as some cyclists view a throttle controlled bicycle as an electric motorbike, not a true bicycle. I personally have to agree. If the bike has pedal assist then it is without doubt a bicycle as it requires human power to move; but when you remove the need for pedaling it becomes a motorised vehicle. I guess some in the industry are worried that if you remove the need for pedaling a throttle controlled bike, then how long will it be before they remove the pedals from such machines altogether.
The full text of the document can be found here.
