Monday, June 8, 2009

Safety and Legal Requirements For Riding an Electric Bicycle

With the inception of environmental concerns and fuel price increases, there has been an enormous increase in the figure of electric bikes that are purchased and used every day. The raise in in product sales has caused numerous countries and states to pay attention at their legislation in regards to the differences between an electric bike and a motor scooter. The purpose of these regulations is to ensure that electric bike users, and other conveyance users, stay as protected as possible till out on the street.
The ground why there is so immense argument comes from conclusive safety issues in regards to electric bikes. In late years, countries such as US, Canada, UK and even in China have had to pass new laws to cover electric bikes. Most state and federal laws identify that these are not indeed a moped or a motorcycle, and that they are more identical to bicycles than anything else. Still various states did require to change certain laws with regards to using electric bikes safely.
Electric Bikes in New South Wales, for example, motorized bicycles only require to be registered if they run on above 200 watts of electrifying intensity. If the bike is spare from registration, hence the rider should gain the same precautions as other typical bicycle riders.
Canadian regulations rules that electric assisted bikes are not considered motorcycles and are constrained to just electric motors of at most 500 watts. These bicycles are only authorized to stretch speeds of 32km an hour. They are allowed within most jurisdictions and do not maintain the same restrictions that mopeds or motorcycles possess. The reason why anyone can use them.
In China, this bike was certified as a non-motorized vehicle in 2002 but it was not authorized to be used in several areas of Beijing until recently. The basis why it was banned was because of certain concerns regarding safety and environmental issues. Those safety issues have to do with vehicular impact.
The maximum capacity that is authorized in UK on an electric bike, exempt from requiring that it be registered as a motor bike, is 250 watts upon a maximum speed of 25 km.
In the United States, electric bikes have the same regulations as conventional bikes as long as the power does not surpass 750 Watts and a speed of 20 miles per hour.
As you can see most battery-powered bicycles function in most countries follows the same laws and regulations that oversee the use of common bicycles. Meaning, they don't have to be registered as motorcycles and they don't keep any particular licensing requirements. This makes segway scooter or electric bikes a user friendly, less worrisome, and suitable for kids and adults alike.
To sum it up, government regulations consider electric bikes to be as reliable as bicycles but propose that they be operated only where bicycles are used, and that the constant precautionary measures such as putting helmets and knee pads take place.