http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "The electric bike is not a short-term trend" en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:41:00 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-384199 Mon, 11 May 2026 18:59:15 +0000 chdot 384199@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Porsche eBike Performance GmbH was established to develop high‑performance e‑bike drive systems and market them worldwide. Due to fundamentally changed market conditions for e‑bike drive systems, the activities of the joint venture will be discontinued. This measure is in line with Porsche AG’s strategic focus on its core business. The closure of operations at the Ottobrunn and Zagreb sites affects around 360 employees. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/porsche-shuts-down-porsche-ebike-performance-gmbh-resulting-in-over-500-job-losses/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/porsche-shuts-down-porsche-ebike-performance-gmbh-resulting-in-over-500-job-losses/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382544 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:36:13 +0000 chdot 382544@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>“For things to really change you need strong, consistent political leadership over a sustained period of time,” a senior figure in the cycle policy world says. “If you have consistent investment you can also attract and keep the talent and skills you need to make cycling work in somewhere as ancient and tightly packed as London. These people aren’t easy to find.”</p> <p>This year, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain will sell more than 5m electric bikes between them. We’ll be lucky if we sell 150,000<br /> Phillip Darnton, Bicycle Association<br /> London does, of course, also have a concentrated population and disincentives to driving, including the congestion charge and a network of low-traffic neighbourhoods in many boroughs.</p> <p>As anyone who has been in London recently will know, as well as growing in size, the swarms of cyclists are also changing in type, including more people on electric-assist bikes, including hire versions such as the ubiquitous Lime models.</p> <p>Within this are a distinct breed of machine: often startlingly rapid electric contraptions powered by vast rear-wheel hub motors and a collection of zip-tied batteries, many ridden by gig economy riders for delivery companies. These are not ebikes, which are strictly defined by law. They are in effect a form of electric motorbike, entirely illegal but rarely challenged by police.</p> <p>“It’s a massive image problem for cycling because more or less everyone conflates the two things,” Tranter says. “You could tackle this more or less overnight by forcing delivery companies to make checks, for example monitoring riders’ speeds. But it seems we’d rather just moan about it.”</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/21/cycling-changing-at-speed-britain-keeping-pace" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/21/cycling-changing-at-speed-britain-keeping-pace</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382534 Sat, 20 Dec 2025 12:36:32 +0000 chdot 382534@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54995399529_fa6150f372_b.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382419 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 23:01:58 +0000 LaidBack 382419@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Velo de Ville Foldy. 17kg because battery is only 170Wh - under half the size of average.<br /> Then again you're only cycling from car or train maybe a few miles. But will people pay £2600 for such a low range folder? Who knows! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382406 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:28:01 +0000 chdot 382406@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>The bike, launched at Eurobike, weighs 17 kg (electric) or approx. 13 kg (non-electric version), </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/velo-de-ville-presents-the-foldy/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/velo-de-ville-presents-the-foldy/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382312 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:56:54 +0000 ejstubbs 382312@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I don't think there's any specific traffic offence of "wheelying".</em></p> <p>That is correct. However, a brief online search indicates that pulling wheelies on a motorcycle in a public place (including publicly accessible places like supermarket car parks) has in the past resulted in prosecution for dangerous driving. Which should probably not come as a huge surprise.</p> <p>See also MCN's summary: <a href="https://archive.is/tYmEt" rel="nofollow">https://archive.is/tYmEt</a> (which also covers "getting your knee down") </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382310 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:39:38 +0000 neddie 382310@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't think there's any specific traffic offence of "wheelying". Maybe it could be caught under "not being in full control of a motor vehicle". But then most motorbike wheelies I've seen, they have control, and many bikes have electronic "automatic wheelie" (and stoppie) functions </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382308 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:20:24 +0000 ejstubbs 382308@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I seem to be noticing increasing numbers of e-bike riders making brisk uphill progress (20mph in one case, so beyond the pedal assist limit anyway) without any pedal input or, as in another recent instance, with the rider turning the pedals far too slowly to be contributing any actual muscular input to the machine's sprightly uphill progress, perhaps in an attempt to disguise the fact it was in fact being driven on the throttle.</p> <p>I suspect that it's more difficult for the polis to justify stopping offenders of this nature, compared to those committing obvious road traffic offences like wheelying around at illegal speeds on city centre streets.</p> <p>(I <em>think</em> I even saw a recumbent being ridden uphill with no pedalling going on yesterday. It certainly had what looked like a motor in the front wheel, and my perception at the time was that the gradient was too steep and the forward motion too sustained to have been achieved by freewheeling from a previous descent. Then again, I've no experience of how recumbents handle, and it might have been a drum brake. Are such things common on recumbents?) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382283 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:17:44 +0000 Arellcat 382283@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've encountered the SRYT Massive a few times, mostly on the A701 around Liberton and on the A702 between Hillend and Fairmilehead - but that might be because I'm mostly on those routes too. They are a menace and probably just about uncatchable without a helicopter and Teledyne-FLIR's finest IR scope.</p> <p>Brazen isn't the word for it when they are wheelieing at high speed without helmets or lights past a <em>police station</em>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382282 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:46:22 +0000 chdot 382282@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/e-bike-positive-campaign-adopted-by-the-bicycle-association-and-the-association-of-cycle-traders/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/e-bike-positive-campaign-adopted-by-the-bicycle-association-and-the-association-of-cycle-traders/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382156 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 22:43:22 +0000 chdot 382156@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“well I don't really, I know the answer“</p> <p>From link</p> <p>“</p> <p>PC Bob Galbraith said: “We are committed to ensuring public safety following the concerns raised by residents regarding anti-social behaviour involving e-bike riders, particularity incidents of riding in pavements, travelling at excessive speed and causing alarm or inconvenience.</p> <p>“We continue to encourage residents to report any incidents so we can respond. Anyone with any concerns should contact Police Scotland on 101</p> <p>“</p> <p>In short ‘we will act on the sort of complaints we like to act on. (Others too difficult or just normal behaviour by law abiding/hard pressed car owners.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382155 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 22:33:13 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 382155@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Thirteen e-bikes seized during police operation in Fountainbridge"</p> <p>Delivery riders I imagine, I've never seen the Sur-Ron Young Team on Fountainbridge (well, actually I have once, but I doubt plod will be getting 13 of yon boyos in one swoop)</p> <p>I wonder (well I don't really, I know the answer) if they did anything about the plague of illegally-parked motor vehicles that block the F'bridge bike lanes, or the junction- and double-parking in the surrounding streets... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382154 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:45:59 +0000 Arellcat 382154@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They can crack down harder. Just on Saturday I watched a helmetless 20-something on an electric motorcycle overtake all the traffic waiting at the red light on Drum Street and turn left onto Newtoft Street. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-382153 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:20:36 +0000 ejstubbs 382153@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/11/thirteen-e-bikes-seized-during-police-operation-in-fountainbridge/">Thirteen e-bikes seized during police operation in Fountainbridge</a></p> <p>Note that this appears to be about illegal electric motorcycles, not EAPCs, judging from the wording in the article, to whit: "offences including no insurance, no licence and no helmets" - none of which are required when riding an EAPC (as I'm sure we all knew). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-381992 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:53:15 +0000 neddie 381992@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Are they also going to limit the amounts of tax lost to electric car salary sacrifice schemes? Or is it only bikes they are attacking? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-381991 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:30:35 +0000 LaidBack 381991@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reports coming in that UKGov will limit Cyclescheme amounts as Rachel Reeves feels that it's too costly and doesn't help 'ordinary people' (aka working people?)<br /> So retailers have lost the Scotland only EST 4 year Interest Free Loans and now have prospect / rumour of other finance options being limited.<br /> Cycle to work schemes mean retailers 'pay' 10% in commission (15% if you used Halfords).<br /> Maybe just a rumour but Cycling Weekly has mentioned? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-381984 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:37:24 +0000 LaidBack 381984@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/66067108@N08/54888728520/in/datetaken/" title="'No one needs to carry a pallet on a bike'"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54888728520_56f6768fa8.jpg" alt="'No one needs to carry a pallet on a bike'" /></a><br /> Of course many large manual cargo bikes / trikes could move a pallet easily enough a short distance on the level.<br /> Village very suspicious of urban toys. ;-)</p> <p>Two electric quads in use locally (non pedal ones with massive bateries).<br /> Most people have enough cars to do all jobs like this and more. Still it's fun having until it goes back to city! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-381976 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:24:11 +0000 chdot 381976@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Today’s riders aren’t just buying bikes, they’re investing in versatility. With the power of a battery, the modern eMTB has become the ultimate quiver killer: one bike that can do it all. Trail days, commutes, errands, even light touring, these machines are capable of far more than they’re marketed towards. And that versatility is unlocked not with a hard sell, but with a smart ask. Today’s customers are investing heavily in high-end eMTBs. These are toys, but they can also serve as tools. But often, they’re sold like one-dimensional machines, meant for the trail and nothing more. Asking a simple question can completely shift the narrative. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/doing-more-with-less-why-smart-sales-are-the-key-to-survival-for-bike-retailers/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/doing-more-with-less-why-smart-sales-are-the-key-to-survival-for-bike-retailers/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=20#post-381246 Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:58:20 +0000 chdot 381246@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Eleven e-bike brands, from Brompton, Giant, Madison, Whyte, and E-bikes Direct/Evolving Sports, are the first to be publicly listed on the Bicycle Association (BA) E-bike Safety Register after passing a rigorous audit of their quality processes and policies, the BA reports. </p> <p>The brands listed are: Basis, Brompton Electric, Dallingridge, Emu, Genesis, Giant, Liv, Momentum, Ridgeback, Saracen and Whyte. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/bicycle-association-announces-first-e-bike-brands-listed-on-e-bike-safety-register/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/bicycle-association-announces-first-e-bike-brands-listed-on-e-bike-safety-register/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-381043 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 23:23:06 +0000 LaidBack 381043@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>“It never ceases to amaze me that you can sell a product that is illegal to be used on the roads” … Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North, on his legal e-bike.</blockquote>Unlike motor vehicles that have regulated power and a top speed set at 70mph? ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-381034 Thu, 04 Sep 2025 16:35:11 +0000 MediumDave 381034@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reasonable-ish article from the Graun if were not for the clumsy and misleading use of "e-bike" to mean EAPC and electric motorbike interchangeable throughout the article. </p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/sep/04/britains-e-bike-boom-desperation-delivery-drivers-and-unthinkable-danger" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/sep/04/britains-e-bike-boom-desperation-delivery-drivers-and-unthinkable-danger</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380342 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 08:37:40 +0000 chdot 380342@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>E-Bikers Ride Much Farther and More Frequently Than Regular Bikers </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.treehugger.com/e-bikers-ride-much-farther-and-more-frequently-than-regula-bikers-5076231" rel="nofollow">https://www.treehugger.com/e-bikers-ride-much-farther-and-more-frequently-than-regula-bikers-5076231</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380330 Sat, 19 Jul 2025 11:52:20 +0000 LaidBack 380330@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@morningsider - thanks for that - Harts really does a lot of campaigning.<br /> @neddie - yes car industry confuses customers greatly with petrol driven e-drive cars and all sorts of energy inefficient nonsense. Endless restyling of same item with faster obsolescence. Amazing how their <strike>customers</strike> victims keep falling for it. Each brand has an army of fans etc.</p> <p>So ACT - which we are a member of has sent out packs of leaflets to clarify - known as the E-Bike Positive campaign. Bit wordy but makes sense.<br /> Really need targeted TV and socials campaign though to counter MotorNormativity.</p> <p><a href="https://ebikepositive.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">https://ebikepositive.co.uk/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380328 Fri, 18 Jul 2025 16:02:12 +0000 neddie 380328@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>there is now a concerted effort, being waged on different fronts, to restrict or even ban e-bikes</blockquote></p> <p>This is because the fossil-fuel industry, motor industry, and their shills, have worked out that e-bikes are a game-changer and a direct threat to them </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380327 Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:36:48 +0000 Morningsider 380327@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I agree that there is now a concerted effort, being waged on different fronts, to restrict or even ban e-bikes. </p> <p>However, the bike industry's engagement with national and local government is effectively non-existent on this, or any other, issue. What other industry relies on its users to lobby governments to the extent that happens with cycling?</p> <p>I know a few individual bike industry folk make huge efforts, Harts and Laidback being good examples, but I'm talking about industry level here - not individual micro and small businesses. Do Shimano, Giant, Specialized and so on not have an interest in growing the market?</p> <p>Always struck me as bizarre that there isn't a well known industry voice in the UK. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380326 Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:12:27 +0000 chdot 380326@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>we’re now tackling a major (potentially existential) anti-e-bike campaign driven by sensationalist mainstream media coverage of illegal electric motorcycle use. </p> <p>…</p> <p>the biggest threat to our sector right now is the risk of knee-jerk policy reaction to the illegal and substandard electric motorcycle products (I refuse to call them ‘e-bikes’) being confused by the media and politicians with the very safe and legal e-bikes sold by the reputable cycle industry. The Association has been working on this behind the scenes for several years, building the evidence case for where the problems truly lie, working with the Office for Product Safety &amp; Standards, DfT, DEFRA and others. As an Association, our work has helped establish without question that the reputable industry’s products are safe and showed Government where regulation is required to tackle the real problem (primarily online marketplaces and delivery platforms, which need to take responsibility for the legality and safety of the products and services they offer). </p> <p>Alongside pushing government to close down access to substandard and illegal products, we’re working with members and other industry partners on an industry-wide Assurance scheme which will help consumers identify safe e-bike products and reputable places to buy them. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/back-in-the-saddle-the-british-bike-business-in-2025/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/back-in-the-saddle-the-british-bike-business-in-2025/amp/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380137 Sat, 28 Jun 2025 09:00:44 +0000 Rosie 380137@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The full report that is linked to this synopsis is worth reading – there are various aspects to the fears around electric bikes catching fire and acting as motorbikes in disguise. This has caused a clamp down on legit electric bikes being allowed on public transport and the problems of insurance mentioned above.</p> <p>Parliamentary Group Warns of “Fake E-Bike” Safety Crisis and Calls for Urgent Government Action</p> <p>Unsafe e-bike products linked to fires and gig economy exploitation prompt calls for online marketplace regulation, scrappage schemes, and stronger protections for riders.</p> <p>A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling &amp; Walking (APPGCW) warns of a growing public safety and fire risk caused by the widespread use of unsafe, illegally modified e-bikes, referred to as “fake e-bikes”, purchased through online marketplaces and frequently used in the gig economy.<br /> <a href="https://appgcw.org/resources/inquiries/unregulated-and-unsafe-the-threat-of-illegal-e-bikes/" rel="nofollow">https://appgcw.org/resources/inquiries/unregulated-and-unsafe-the-threat-of-illegal-e-bikes/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380085 Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:32:23 +0000 Baldcyclist 380085@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>" I wonder what kind of insurance they had in mind?"</p> <p>Probably home insurance, you try to insure your bikes with your contents insurance, you tell them the brand/model and value of your bikes. They spot an ebike in there and refuse to insure because of increased fire risk.</p> <p>Same for electric cars, some insurers won't cover if they know you have an electric car, beacuse a few of them have gone up in flames, and taken houses with them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380082 Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:58:06 +0000 neddie 380082@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And yet we've had over-powered cars causing hazards on the roads and leading to fires because of petrol for more than a century.</p> <p>Double standards</p> <p>#CarBrain<br /> #MotorNormativity </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=165&page=19#post-380076 Tue, 24 Jun 2025 20:22:39 +0000 ejstubbs 380076@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/16/take-urgent-action-to-slow-sales-of-and-dangerous-ebikes-says-group-of-mps-and-peers">Sales of illegal and dangerous ebikes must be stopped, say MPs and peers</a></p> <p><blockquote>All-party group concerned about hazards caused by bikes, with focus on use by delivery drivers and risk of fire</p> <p>Ministers must urgently act to stop the sale of illegal and potentially lethal electric bikes, with a particular focus on their use by gig economy delivery riders, a committee of MPs and peers has said.</p> <p>The rapid spread of highly powered bikes or conversion kits causes hazards on the roads and can lead to fires because of cheaply made batteries, the report by the all-party parliamentary group for cycling and walking said, calling it “a crisis hiding in plain sight”.</p> <p>This was even having a detrimental impact on active travel, the report said, with some travel networks and workplaces banning all ebikes from their premises, and people with legal ebikes being refused insurance.</p> <p>...</blockquote></p> <p>(Interesting that insurance should be mentioned, given that you aren't required to have insurance to ride an EAPC-compliant ebike on the road. I wonder what kind of insurance they had in mind?) </p>