Tag Archive: Regulation

  1. National US e-bike regulations on the horizon

    Comments Off on National US e-bike regulations on the horizon

    Source: Electrek

    A new bill has been introduced to the US Congress, which could introduce a nationwide, federal framework for the regulation of electric bikes and other micromobility devices, rather than the patchwork of state-level specific e-bike regulations.

    Introduced by a bipartisan group of Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties, the bill has been dubbed the Safe Standards for Personal E-Bike and E-Moto Device Specifications Act, or the Safe SPEEDS Act. Its aim is to provide the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with the authority to classify and regulate e-bikes and larger electric two-wheelers known as e-motos, as well as other similar devices. The CPSC would also be directed to create standardised labelling requirements and minimum rider age recommendations. Additionally, the CPSC would be required to research and publish data on crashes, injuries and fatalities involving these devices, which is currently inconsistent across jurisdictions.

    E-bikes have seen a rapid rise across the US over the last few years, but there has been little change to federal standards since 2002, at which point they were considered as consumer products, rather than motor vehicles. This has resulted in a confusing and inconsistent scenario for consumers, and legislations which differ from state to state.

    The news closely follows earlier reports that various US state-level lawmakers have been pushing for the application of license plates to e-bikes, in an effort to tackle problematic riding behaviour, though critics have stated that such a move may hamper efforts to move transportation to more sustainable options than cars.

    The Safe SPEEDS act has been vocally support from a variety of industry and safety groups such as PeopleForBikes and the National Bicycle Dealers Association, with concerns about higher-speed vehicles being marketed alongside e-bikes to the fore. Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes, said, “PeopleForBikes is pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Safe SPEEDS Act, which will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to gather and analyze data about incidents involving the many e-mobility products under its jurisdiction. This legislation marks an important step towards understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by e-motos: higher speed electric motorized vehicles that are sold as electric dirt bikes, but often end up being inappropriately used on public roads by young riders.”

  2. Australian schoolchildren to trial e-bike riding license scheme

    Comments Off on Australian schoolchildren to trial e-bike riding license scheme

    Source: Electrek, Fietsberaad, Yahoo Australia

    A proposal in New South Wales, Australia, known as the Student Bicycle License Scheme (SBLS) aims to act as a trial of a new licensing program for school-age riders of electric bikes.

    Yahoo News Australia reports that teenagers are among the most frequent users of e-bikes, and that the proposed scheme, put forward by Bicycle NSW, aims to promote the safe use of e-bikes. The scheme is due to launch in some schools in mid-to-late September.

    The scheme will require any students wanting to ride an e-bike or e-scooter to school to complete an online training course, and to pass a knowledge test, to be issued with a digital “ride-ready” license.

    The CEO of Bicycle NSW, Peter McLean, said that the trial is mainly about promoting education and awareness. Individual schools are free to decide whether to participate and how to implement the scheme; for instance, they could make it mandatory for any student wanting to use the school’s secure bike parking facilities.

    There are no current plans to introduce fines or other penalties for any unlicensed riders during the pilot phase – the initial focus is on education. The government is working with road safety experts and schools to develop training materials for the scheme, including topics such as speed limits, the use of helmets, etiquette on sidewalks, and the proper behaviour at intersections.

    McLean said, “[The trial] focuses on a number of the basic rules for bicycle users, but also on etiquette and respect. It also includes helpful knowledge around bicycle security and equipment.” The trial stage will be assessed, he continued. “We just want to make sure we develop the program thoroughly first before we broaden the offering to others.”