The other day I was riding up one of my training hills that has gradients of upwards of 12%. I caught up with an older guy (I'm nearly 60 and he was a lot older than me, so maybe in his 80s?) on an ebike. I had a bit of a chat with him and he said he didn't really see himself as a cyclist, but he just thought "I wonder where that road goes..." and off he went. He told me where he came from and I guess we was doing 30 or 40 km that day. Not just riding by motor, but he said he was pedaling as much as he could. The look on his face was incredible. Just indescribable joy. I'm sold on ebikes now.
I’ve been riding road bikes 40 years from amateur racing to now just the pleasure of riding my bike. The BBC panorama was spot on, they are dangerous as you have people riding them with no road sense and riding them around pedestrians is a recipe for disaster, I’ve seen it with my own eyes and even when I’m cycling out of my city, I can’t believe what I’m seeing half the time. In an ideal world if they stick to law, limited speed and ride only on the road or cycle lanes then great I’ve no problem. Glad the bbc raised this issue as it can’t be ignored. I’m an experienced cyclist but get your heads around if you give a kid a powerful e bike what do you think they’re going to do. People’s welfare comes first.
There is a legal distinction between an e-bike and an electric motorbike so how many of the "illegal e-bikes" are actually electric motorbikes where the rider isn't following the requirements for those - license, insurance, registered with DVLA, license plates etc? Or has the horse bolted and everything will be referred to as an "e-bike", even electric motorbikes? Another point is the lack of responsibility of the delivery companies have for the behaviour of the riders. I suppose it is a consequence of the "gig economy" where it is convenient for the delivery companies to employ people to do the work, but with none of the responsibility there would be for an employer and a full time employee.
You've made the same basic mistake that the BBC made in this debate, and that is to lump in the electric powered mopeds (those with a high powered motor & throttle) with e-bikes (EAPC as defined in law). From gov.uk: "If a bike meets the EAPC requirements it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed." "Any electric bike that does not meet the EAPC rules is classed as a motorcycle or moped and needs to be registered and taxed. You’ll need a driving licence to ride one and you must wear a crash helmet." Where EAPCs are subject to the power, throttle & assist limits you describe. If we want the proper debate about the benefits of EAPCs, then we all need to talk about the same thing. Properly differentiating in between assisted pedal bikes & electric mopeds/motorbikes would be a good start. In terms of cracking down on the electric mopeds, proper enforcement of the existing laws on type approval & registration would help. These are not "illegal bicycles", they are not bicycles at all.
Spot on - the term 'e-bike' certainly causes a lot of confusion. I'd say the distinction between an assisted pedal bike and an electric-powered motorcycle is pretty clear on paper, but not so much in the public conscience. I did feel this was addressed in the discussion, though the lack of a solid distinction in the doc muddies the conversation somewhat. As you say, we all need to talk about the same thing!
Yep, agree about the term 'e bike' being used for throttle operated ones, which should definately be termed as 'electric motorcycles'. Also, we all need to be singing from the same hyme sheet. Max permitted speeds for e bikes in the Uk, is currently 15.5mph(or even 15.53mph), not as quoted more than once in this debate '15 mph' by one panel member and '16 mph' by another. Please don't take my last comment as a critiscism, it was purely just an observation. It just highlights the general confusion of what many people percieve to be 'the law on e bikes'. p.s. Enjoyed the debate.
Shock horror, the BBC once again produced a poor piece of work which is biased and only push the story they want. What an absolute waste of the TV licence.
In the UK, electric bikes (ebikes) with throttles are legal if the throttle only assists the rider without pedaling up to a maximum speed of 3.7 mph. This is known as "walk start". Explanation Starting throttle assistance The throttle cuts off when the bike is moving without pedaling at over 3.7 mph. Pedal assistance If the rider pedals, the throttle can provide electric assistance up to 15.5 mph. Full-speed throttle Bikes sold before January 1, 2016 may have a full-speed throttle, which is legal. Other ebike laws in the UK The motor must have a maximum power of 250Wh. The motor must stop assisting when the bike reaches 15.5 mph. You must be 14 or older. Helmets are recommended but not mandatory. You can ride them anywhere a non-assisted bicycle is allowed.
The industry cannot now grumble about negative publicity when it completely failed to ensure that the EAPC regulations were properly brought in and enforced. I'm a cyclist and also carried out a *legal* conversion to my partner's bicycle. But I work in Birmingham city centre and I'm genuinely fearful about the number of illegal electric motorbikes zipping around - both during my commute in, but especially in the pedestrianised areas. These things are big, heavy, 30mph+ mini-motorbikes, being ridden at speed by people who aren't insured or trained. The number of legal EAPCs I see in Birmingham city centre? Nil. Because the industry allowed itself to be utterly wrong-footed by sales from China, undercutting the legal EAPCs in terms of price. And social media is a part of the problem. There are lots of popular channels here on TH-cam where the presenter will be talking up how easy it is to "unlock", how much performance the latest models have, how fast they can go. As you say, this needed WAY more education, and WAY more enforcement fight from the outset, especially at the entry ports. Now? Too little, too late, and the horse has long since bolted from the stable. And sorry, but I do not buy the advice that "faster is safer". It's cobblers from a car perspective, so is almost certainly cobblers when talking about bikes. When I'm on my bike, what puts me at risk is not the fact that I'll be riding at about 15mph, but all the impatient, careless drivers. Allowing me to go faster won't change them.
Good points. What about the dealers responsibilities. Halfords of all people sell a lot of 'off road' scooters. Lots of dealers are happy to unrestrict bikes. E bays is happy to host the sale of dangerous illegal bikes.
BMW advertises an e-bike that has integrated GPS system that detects the road you’re on and can adjust your speed limiting. It also s called the iVision Amby.
Electric motorbikes are all the rage around here, Surron and the like, ridden by balaclava'd up hoodlum's at insane speeds on roads, public spaces, basically anywhere, no plates, little to no effort by the police to stop them although appreciate it's not easy.
I live in Portland Oregon, a lot of final mile delivery here is done using e-trikes with the equivalent of a small delivery van box on the back. They have a massive motor and battery (in the region of 1kW) but max speed of around 20mph. They are for me the logical conclusion of the delivery vehicle.
To address Jake's comment, in cities illegal ebikes far outweigh legal ones at least in quantity of journeys. Half the bikes on the road are delivery people. To address Paul's comment. The speed limit on roads doesn't apply to cyclists. It's guidance for cycles, they have to be going a safe speed and in control but no specific speed. Thanks for having this conversation.
Government figures 2023 there were 199 ebike fires recorded out of a total list of fire incidents of 591,676. Ebike fires were about one in 3000 of the fires in the UK. To be exact, in 2023, for every e-bike fire there were 2973 fires due to other causes.
Ebike fires are still quite rare but there were far fewer ebikes in 2023 than there are now and more importantly, the events are rare but the consequenses are very serious. Imagine an ebike battery catching fire in a high rise apartment.
All ebikes and ebike conversion kits should be provided with a charger and battery fireproof bag. Fireproof boxes are better than bags but more expensive.
Thank you for making this video, is good to hear some reasonable debate about the documentary. I work at a community project helping people get out on ebikes in rural Scotland (so not somewhere that really experiences the issues raised in the documentary). Have been surprised this week by how many times the documentary has been raised by people and the negativity it has generated about ebikes amongst public. I feel is genuinely a bit irresponsible for the BBC to air such a one sided show, you kind of expect it from organisations with their own agenda against cycling or vehicle restrictions but was a bit caught out that would make it to TV.
Why would a government and its agencies make a regulation or law to prohibit the use of overpowered e-bikes and not heavily fine those selling them. I would add that a legally compliant e-bike, any motor vehicle or even bicycle in the hands of someone irresponsible or malicious is dangerous.
It really should be an issue around the ‘gig economy’. I visit London occasionally and fast moving riders delivering food are a menace on footpaths and pedestrianised areas. In the panorama film you saw clips of riders travelling at speed while not even peddling. So it’s not a peddle assist bike or it’s illegal. I recently purchased a peddle assist e-bike and it is helping me ride more often and further. Of course, once I go over 15mph I’m on human power only on a very heavy bike.
I watched an interview with Joe from China Cycling and he commented on the severity of Chinese law and enforcement on E-bikes due to how they are souped up (modified). That's on top of where the riders are band from riding. It seems that once again technology is under estimate in being as much of a boon (enabling people to get out who couldn't otherwise) and bust (bring out the irresponsible fools). Be careful of using laws to resolve these problems as laws that can't be enforced are useless. As a road cyclist and runner I'm often in danger from e-bikes and scooters who are breaking the law (inappropriate surface [sidewalks], no bells and speed [all surfaces even legal ones]).
Many of your videos use 'shock tactics' around badly made frames, poorly assembled bikes etc. 'impact' and 'shock' tactics seem to be the only way in this ever complex world. You are right about the BBC documentary. How about making your own truthful documentary on the subject?
I think you are right. We need to do better at filming and documenting the bikes bought to us. We too often just turn the customer around at the till before we even take it in.
Maybe put the responsibility of Deliveroo and Uber eats to validate thier employees, it seems some dont want to be identified with only thier eyes showing, delivery couriers and commuters in citys are a different breed to what i would class a cyclist
The problem is the BBC only talked to a swivel-eyed bicycling hating journo from the Torygraph that uses 'pedestrian safety concerns' to attack all types of cycling, because he actually loves cars and doesn't want to share the roads.
100% Every week Steve Bird writes a story in the Torygraph about ANYTHING that he claims will make driving difficult whether that is bike lanes, restrictions on driving along certain roads, drivers being fined by local councils. It is just clickbait for car-brained Torygraph readers.
This is discussion between people with a vested interest in selling ebikes. As a cyclist and occasional pedestrian, the issue is illegal migrants delivering junk food on llegal Chinese ebikes causing mayhem.
You are a Bosch ebike systems dealer. I enjoy your videos but sometimes it comes across that you put all Chinese ebike manufacturers under the same bad umbrella.
Another great podcast but I felt the four of you were extremely restraint. That show was so full of shite it’s untrue! They never once filmed a proper legal eBike, they used the term eBike whilst continuously using pedelecs, eMotorbikes and DIY bikes to peddle their one side typical media anti cycling claptrap! (Pardon the pun) Adrian Chiles the man once put in his place by Nichole Cooke when asked if it hurt when you fall off your bike she replied “we don’t fall, we crash”. Numpty of the highest degree! Where were the industry leaders, the retailers, the people like yourself or Chris Boardman with some common sense etc… As read in Cycling Industry News today it was said the British media are putting the UK ten years behind Europe as far as eBike use is concerned. Programs like this and all the other drivel spouted by the anti cycling brigade and our media outlets need to sort their own houses out (motorists) before having a pop at cyclists. The guy near the end of this program mentioned it’s going to take the death if a child for people to sit up and take note and take action against the eBike menaces, failing to even consider the thousands of people, hundreds of children that are killed yearly on UK roads every single year.
You will probably find some of the batteries and chargers that are made for tfor the big brands and non big brands are made by the same supplier / factory
Which ones do you think are made with recycled cells and lack of waterproofing? The big brands or non big brands, they also could be made to the same standard.
The bias was pretty shocking. Chiles started off by even saying he's never been on an e-bike before, so you knew his knowledge was non existent and probably some anti cycling researcher came up with a concept and the Beeb put Chiles on the tele. No discussion with legit shops, e-bike owners who do the school run/local shopping. The whole point they focussed on illegal usage and modified bikes being ridden badly, which in my eyes is no different to the dozens of shows on the Police chasing bad drivers often found on Channel 5. e-bike assistance is 15.5mph(25kph) pedal assist no more than 250Watts. The death stats were also badly represented. The newspaper person they spoke to posed the question on "will it take the death of a child to do something" on the dangers of electric bikes. But, hey, the very next day a 9 month old is killed by a car driver. Yet, no geo fenced speed limits, no drink drive/valid license technology exists before someone gets in their car.
so much crap out there now, ebay. wish, amazon, i refuse them all in my shop, accident waiting to happen and a liability. regards what should be done, i think the speed limiter should be 18mph as that's what a normal roadie can do. police should confiscate any illegal bike and dispose of it. the surron numpties stealing phones should be fully prosecuted as much as possible when caught. any bike that has a throttle and does more than the normal e bike limit should be subjesct to insurance and MOT, number plate and license, CBT etc, those bikes are basically mopeds so treat them as such.
Can we stop bashing on China please. It isn’t their responsibility to ensure that their products are legal everywhere. We in. Britain sell cars overseas that have features that are illegal in other countries.
It is their responsibility to sell safe products though. We see dodgy wiring, repurposed batteries held together by shrink wrap, totally inadequate brakes fitted to a monster eBike weighing 45kg, folding eBike held together with a qr skewer. Etc etc.
A lot of ebike motors and components are made in China by big companies and rebadged to go on big brand ebikes. You can buy CE and ROHS chargers direct from Chinese suppliers, they are perfectly safe I agree there are bad Chinese companies but they are bad companies in every country. It is unfair to say that every Chinese ebike company is bad, Bafang is a well known and respected company. The big brands don't like companies such as Bafang as it takes business away from them. I appreciate you may see badly and dangerous ebikes, you also see big brand frames that are not in tolerance specifications as well. If you are not bothered then start selling ebike battery fireproof bags and boxes.
The cheapest E-Bike on Halfords is £400 does 20miles and takes 4hours to recharge. That's a lot of money for something that has limited range. Affordability needs to improve to get better quality bikes onto the streets.
The other day I was riding up one of my training hills that has gradients of upwards of 12%. I caught up with an older guy (I'm nearly 60 and he was a lot older than me, so maybe in his 80s?) on an ebike. I had a bit of a chat with him and he said he didn't really see himself as a cyclist, but he just thought "I wonder where that road goes..." and off he went. He told me where he came from and I guess we was doing 30 or 40 km that day. Not just riding by motor, but he said he was pedaling as much as he could. The look on his face was incredible. Just indescribable joy. I'm sold on ebikes now.
I’ve been riding road bikes 40 years from amateur racing to now just the pleasure of riding my bike. The BBC panorama was spot on, they are dangerous as you have people riding them with no road sense and riding them around pedestrians is a recipe for disaster, I’ve seen it with my own eyes and even when I’m cycling out of my city, I can’t believe what I’m seeing half the time. In an ideal world if they stick to law, limited speed and ride only on the road or cycle lanes then great I’ve no problem. Glad the bbc raised this issue as it can’t be ignored. I’m an experienced cyclist but get your heads around if you give a kid a powerful e bike what do you think they’re going to do. People’s welfare comes first.
There is a legal distinction between an e-bike and an electric motorbike so how many of the "illegal e-bikes" are actually electric motorbikes where the rider isn't following the requirements for those - license, insurance, registered with DVLA, license plates etc? Or has the horse bolted and everything will be referred to as an "e-bike", even electric motorbikes?
Another point is the lack of responsibility of the delivery companies have for the behaviour of the riders. I suppose it is a consequence of the "gig economy" where it is convenient for the delivery companies to employ people to do the work, but with none of the responsibility there would be for an employer and a full time employee.
You've made the same basic mistake that the BBC made in this debate, and that is to lump in the electric powered mopeds (those with a high powered motor & throttle) with e-bikes (EAPC as defined in law).
From gov.uk:
"If a bike meets the EAPC requirements it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed."
"Any electric bike that does not meet the EAPC rules is classed as a motorcycle or moped and needs to be registered and taxed. You’ll need a driving licence to ride one and you must wear a crash helmet."
Where EAPCs are subject to the power, throttle & assist limits you describe.
If we want the proper debate about the benefits of EAPCs, then we all need to talk about the same thing. Properly differentiating in between assisted pedal bikes & electric mopeds/motorbikes would be a good start.
In terms of cracking down on the electric mopeds, proper enforcement of the existing laws on type approval & registration would help. These are not "illegal bicycles", they are not bicycles at all.
Spot on - the term 'e-bike' certainly causes a lot of confusion. I'd say the distinction between an assisted pedal bike and an electric-powered motorcycle is pretty clear on paper, but not so much in the public conscience.
I did feel this was addressed in the discussion, though the lack of a solid distinction in the doc muddies the conversation somewhat. As you say, we all need to talk about the same thing!
Yes. Very true. We did miss this. The fact you can disable a throttle doesn’t make a motorbike a bicycle.
Yep, agree about the term 'e bike' being used for throttle operated ones, which should definately be termed as 'electric motorcycles'. Also, we all need to be singing from the same hyme sheet. Max permitted speeds for e bikes in the Uk, is currently 15.5mph(or even 15.53mph), not as quoted more than once in this debate '15 mph' by one panel member and '16 mph' by another. Please don't take my last comment as a critiscism, it was purely just an observation. It just highlights the general confusion of what many people percieve to be 'the law on e bikes'. p.s. Enjoyed the debate.
Shock horror, the BBC once again produced a poor piece of work which is biased and only push the story they want. What an absolute waste of the TV licence.
Well said, the BBC is a dodgy,untrustworthy outfit.
The BBC have been captured.
In the UK, electric bikes (ebikes) with throttles are legal if the throttle only assists the rider without pedaling up to a maximum speed of 3.7 mph. This is known as "walk start".
Explanation
Starting throttle assistance
The throttle cuts off when the bike is moving without pedaling at over 3.7 mph.
Pedal assistance
If the rider pedals, the throttle can provide electric assistance up to 15.5 mph.
Full-speed throttle
Bikes sold before January 1, 2016 may have a full-speed throttle, which is legal.
Other ebike laws in the UK
The motor must have a maximum power of 250Wh.
The motor must stop assisting when the bike reaches 15.5 mph.
You must be 14 or older.
Helmets are recommended but not mandatory.
You can ride them anywhere a non-assisted bicycle is allowed.
The industry cannot now grumble about negative publicity when it completely failed to ensure that the EAPC regulations were properly brought in and enforced.
I'm a cyclist and also carried out a *legal* conversion to my partner's bicycle. But I work in Birmingham city centre and I'm genuinely fearful about the number of illegal electric motorbikes zipping around - both during my commute in, but especially in the pedestrianised areas. These things are big, heavy, 30mph+ mini-motorbikes, being ridden at speed by people who aren't insured or trained.
The number of legal EAPCs I see in Birmingham city centre? Nil.
Because the industry allowed itself to be utterly wrong-footed by sales from China, undercutting the legal EAPCs in terms of price.
And social media is a part of the problem. There are lots of popular channels here on TH-cam where the presenter will be talking up how easy it is to "unlock", how much performance the latest models have, how fast they can go.
As you say, this needed WAY more education, and WAY more enforcement fight from the outset, especially at the entry ports. Now? Too little, too late, and the horse has long since bolted from the stable.
And sorry, but I do not buy the advice that "faster is safer". It's cobblers from a car perspective, so is almost certainly cobblers when talking about bikes. When I'm on my bike, what puts me at risk is not the fact that I'll be riding at about 15mph, but all the impatient, careless drivers. Allowing me to go faster won't change them.
Good points. What about the dealers responsibilities. Halfords of all people sell a lot of 'off road' scooters. Lots of dealers are happy to unrestrict bikes. E bays is happy to host the sale of dangerous illegal bikes.
BMW advertises an e-bike that has integrated GPS system that detects the road you’re on and can adjust your speed limiting. It also s called the iVision Amby.
Electric motorbikes are all the rage around here, Surron and the like, ridden by balaclava'd up hoodlum's at insane speeds on roads, public spaces, basically anywhere, no plates, little to no effort by the police to stop them although appreciate it's not easy.
Exactly they are motorbikes and the bbc were showing them as e-bikes.
I live in Portland Oregon, a lot of final mile delivery here is done using e-trikes with the equivalent of a small delivery van box on the back.
They have a massive motor and battery (in the region of 1kW) but max speed of around 20mph. They are for me the logical conclusion of the delivery vehicle.
To address Jake's comment, in cities illegal ebikes far outweigh legal ones at least in quantity of journeys. Half the bikes on the road are delivery people.
To address Paul's comment. The speed limit on roads doesn't apply to cyclists. It's guidance for cycles, they have to be going a safe speed and in control but no specific speed.
Thanks for having this conversation.
Government figures
2023 there were 199 ebike fires recorded out of a total list of fire incidents of 591,676.
Ebike fires were about one in 3000 of the fires in the UK.
To be exact, in 2023, for every e-bike fire there were 2973 fires due to other causes.
Ebike fires are still quite rare but there were far fewer ebikes in 2023 than there are now and more importantly, the events are rare but the consequenses are very serious. Imagine an ebike battery catching fire in a high rise apartment.
All ebikes and ebike conversion kits should be provided with a charger and battery fireproof bag. Fireproof boxes are better than bags but more expensive.
Thank you for making this video, is good to hear some reasonable debate about the documentary. I work at a community project helping people get out on ebikes in rural Scotland (so not somewhere that really experiences the issues raised in the documentary). Have been surprised this week by how many times the documentary has been raised by people and the negativity it has generated about ebikes amongst public. I feel is genuinely a bit irresponsible for the BBC to air such a one sided show, you kind of expect it from organisations with their own agenda against cycling or vehicle restrictions but was a bit caught out that would make it to TV.
Why would a government and its agencies make a regulation or law to prohibit the use of overpowered e-bikes and not heavily fine those selling them. I would add that a legally compliant e-bike, any motor vehicle or even bicycle in the hands of someone irresponsible or malicious is dangerous.
They don't give the police and trading standards to check the law is being upheld.
Enough money
This is a big problem with car users 20:57 👏🏾
There are safe and legal ebikes and motors / batteries / chargers apart from Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha.
It really should be an issue around the ‘gig economy’. I visit London occasionally and fast moving riders delivering food are a menace on footpaths and pedestrianised areas.
In the panorama film you saw clips of riders travelling at speed while not even peddling. So it’s not a peddle assist bike or it’s illegal.
I recently purchased a peddle assist e-bike and it is helping me ride more often and further. Of course, once I go over 15mph I’m on human power only on a very heavy bike.
the rickshaw ebikes in london should definitely not be in cycle paths!
I watched an interview with Joe from China Cycling and he commented on the severity of Chinese law and enforcement on E-bikes due to how they are souped up (modified). That's on top of where the riders are band from riding. It seems that once again technology is under estimate in being as much of a boon (enabling people to get out who couldn't otherwise) and bust (bring out the irresponsible fools). Be careful of using laws to resolve these problems as laws that can't be enforced are useless. As a road cyclist and runner I'm often in danger from e-bikes and scooters who are breaking the law (inappropriate surface [sidewalks], no bells and speed [all surfaces even legal ones]).
Many of your videos use 'shock tactics' around badly made frames, poorly assembled bikes etc. 'impact' and 'shock' tactics seem to be the only way in this ever complex world. You are right about the BBC documentary. How about making your own truthful documentary on the subject?
I think you are right. We need to do better at filming and documenting the bikes bought to us. We too often just turn the customer around at the till before we even take it in.
@MapdecVodcast If you stopped keep deleting comments I make, then you may have a more rounded debate. Seize the opportunity.
E-bike are great but the problem is the illegal e-bikes and the speed but over all they get people using a bike
3:00 mins in - it's not a plus if people are turning a throttle instead of having pedal assistance!
Ooo suprise, the beeb backing the tory little britian line as usual.
Maybe put the responsibility of Deliveroo and Uber eats to validate thier employees, it seems some dont want to be identified with only thier eyes showing, delivery couriers and commuters in citys are a different breed to what i would class a cyclist
The problem is the BBC only talked to a swivel-eyed bicycling hating journo from the Torygraph that uses 'pedestrian safety concerns' to attack all types of cycling, because he actually loves cars and doesn't want to share the roads.
100% Every week Steve Bird writes a story in the Torygraph about ANYTHING that he claims will make driving difficult whether that is bike lanes, restrictions on driving along certain roads, drivers being fined by local councils. It is just clickbait for car-brained Torygraph readers.
From the Netherlands;
Can't catch me with the BBSHD!!
hehehehe
This is discussion between people with a vested interest in selling ebikes.
As a cyclist and occasional pedestrian, the issue is illegal migrants delivering junk food on llegal Chinese ebikes causing mayhem.
We don’t sell e-bikes. We do maintain them within UK law and the restrictions of trading standards and our insurance though.
You are a Bosch ebike systems dealer. I enjoy your videos but sometimes it comes across that you put all Chinese ebike manufacturers under the same bad umbrella.
Another great podcast but I felt the four of you were extremely restraint. That show was so full of shite it’s untrue! They never once filmed a proper legal eBike, they used the term eBike whilst continuously using pedelecs, eMotorbikes and DIY bikes to peddle their one side typical media anti cycling claptrap! (Pardon the pun) Adrian Chiles the man once put in his place by Nichole Cooke when asked if it hurt when you fall off your bike she replied “we don’t fall, we crash”. Numpty of the highest degree! Where were the industry leaders, the retailers, the people like yourself or Chris Boardman with some common sense etc… As read in Cycling Industry News today it was said the British media are putting the UK ten years behind Europe as far as eBike use is concerned. Programs like this and all the other drivel spouted by the anti cycling brigade and our media outlets need to sort their own houses out (motorists) before having a pop at cyclists. The guy near the end of this program mentioned it’s going to take the death if a child for people to sit up and take note and take action against the eBike menaces, failing to even consider the thousands of people, hundreds of children that are killed yearly on UK roads every single year.
My dream of getting safer bike infrastructure may finally be realized if we can triple bike users by adding ebikes
You will probably find some of the batteries and chargers that are made for tfor the big brands and non big brands are made by the same supplier / factory
Maybe. Possibly they are made with rejected cells or without weather proofing etc.
Which ones do you think are made with recycled cells and lack of waterproofing? The big brands or non big brands, they also could be made to the same standard.
The bias was pretty shocking. Chiles started off by even saying he's never been on an e-bike before, so you knew his knowledge was non existent and probably some anti cycling researcher came up with a concept and the Beeb put Chiles on the tele. No discussion with legit shops, e-bike owners who do the school run/local shopping. The whole point they focussed on illegal usage and modified bikes being ridden badly, which in my eyes is no different to the dozens of shows on the Police chasing bad drivers often found on Channel 5. e-bike assistance is 15.5mph(25kph) pedal assist no more than 250Watts. The death stats were also badly represented. The newspaper person they spoke to posed the question on "will it take the death of a child to do something" on the dangers of electric bikes. But, hey, the very next day a 9 month old is killed by a car driver. Yet, no geo fenced speed limits, no drink drive/valid license technology exists before someone gets in their car.
Truth. The death of children by cars is under reported. It should be daily headline news.
The police can charge all cyclists with dangerous cycling.
Mistake number 1: watching or listening to anything produced by the BBC.
If only they'd do a docu about the 5 people killed by car drivers EVERY day. But no, people just shrug.
So true.
That BBC show was rubbish, just poor, cheap, lazy journalism.
Who still watches television and especially the BBC...woke propaganda.
The fact that you thought the BBC could produce a balanced programme shows your naivety.
Everything they produce has an agenda.
Yeah. Impartiality is not prevailing at the BBC any more.
@@MapdecVodcast who does do impartiality? Genuinely interested.
so much crap out there now, ebay. wish, amazon, i refuse them all in my shop, accident waiting to happen and a liability. regards what should be done, i think the speed limiter should be 18mph as that's what a normal roadie can do. police should confiscate any illegal bike and dispose of it. the surron numpties stealing phones should be fully prosecuted as much as possible when caught. any bike that has a throttle and does more than the normal e bike limit should be subjesct to insurance and MOT, number plate and license, CBT etc, those bikes are basically mopeds so treat them as such.
I agree 20mph would be safer through junctions and roundabouts. And a lttle more fun. x
Can we stop bashing on China please. It isn’t their responsibility to ensure that their products are legal everywhere. We in. Britain sell cars overseas that have features that are illegal in other countries.
It is their responsibility to sell safe products though. We see dodgy wiring, repurposed batteries held together by shrink wrap, totally inadequate brakes fitted to a monster eBike weighing 45kg, folding eBike held together with a qr skewer. Etc etc.
@@MapdecVodcastwhat about Himiway e-bikes. Suspiciously cheap (see A7 pro) compared to similar e-bikes in the market and all apparently legal?
A lot of ebike motors and components are made in China by big companies and rebadged to go on big brand ebikes. You can buy CE and ROHS chargers direct from Chinese suppliers, they are perfectly safe
I agree there are bad Chinese companies but they are bad companies in every country.
It is unfair to say that every Chinese ebike company is bad, Bafang is a well known and respected company.
The big brands don't like companies such as Bafang as it takes business away from them.
I appreciate you may see badly and dangerous ebikes, you also see big brand frames that are not in tolerance specifications as well.
If you are not bothered then start selling ebike battery fireproof bags and boxes.
The cheapest E-Bike on Halfords is £400 does 20miles and takes 4hours to recharge. That's a lot of money for something that has limited range. Affordability needs to improve to get better quality bikes onto the streets.
TBH most of my e-bike journies are 20 miles and under. They are really designed for local journeys of 5 miles or less.
@@badabing8884 it looks like the delivery drivers must be doing dozens of trips a day.