How could a total ban on e-bikes due to fires be avoided?

[Bletchleyite]

From:

Electric bike on London Overground - continually being ejected from trains.

It strikes me that it is not a matter of judgment, just a failure to apply the NRCOT (from a post above): I suppose if a member of staff considers that any particular e-bike is unsafe (eg because it’s the aforementioned bodge job with wires sticking out) then 12(2) of the bylaws empowers them...

www.railforums.co.uk

Inevitably I fear ebikes are going to end up with registration plates to be allowed anywhere. Not fully licensed like car but still with required registration

In light of the article quoted in this post: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...being-ejected-from-trains.268495/post-6861624

There is going to need to be something to differentiate the illegal rubbish from proper ones. Though TBH most of the illegal rubbish is clearly identified within half a second of looking at it, so an enforcement crackdown would do. Another option could be to have some sort of railway/TfL ebike registration scheme, where a permit can be obtained to take one on board on production of proof of purchase of a reputable CE approved model or conversion kit.

Edit: please do not turn this into a thread on whether bicycles in general should be carried or not - it is purely about e-bikes. That in particular has been done to death and I'm conscious there are very varied views on it!

 

[island]

I would like to say the common sense test should be invoked, but we all know that's going to wind up remarkably inconsistently applied...

 

[py_megapixel]

Another option could be to have some sort of railway/TfL ebike registration scheme, where a permit can be obtained to take one on board on production of proof of purchase of a reputable CE approved model or conversion kit.

Some operators have a scheme of this kind for mobility scooters already.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Some operators have a scheme of this kind for mobility scooters already.

Yes, that was my thought.

 

[Harpers Tate]

As owner and user of a fully compliant, certified EBike, and as someone who regrets the loss of free, walk-up bicycle space on trains*, I'd be quite happy to have my bike pre-authorised, as long as there isn't a huge admin fee for same. And not on a per-journey basis; rather once for the bike for as long as I keep it.

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* not just for my own convenience. But I'm not saying more as that becomes the very thing the OP has asked us not to discuss.

 

[mike57]

Assuming we are talking concern about battery fires then my understanding is that most fires occur whilst charging. Is charging an e-bike battery on a train is prohibited? If not it should be. The other problem is that the resulting fires are difficult to extinguish, and erupt quickly, almost explosively. Not something you want happening on a crowed train.

To be honest the only way I could see this issue being addessed is with a registration scheme, but how will that deal with 'Uninformed user needs new battery as old one is worn out, buys new battery which turns out to be cheap clone' Are you going to check all details of the bike regularly

Without getting into the wider bike thing, I think any scheme is going to cost money to administer, and that cost will have to be born by the users.

**Tongue in cheek** Reintroduce the traditonal parcels/luggage van, so that they are separated from passengers.

 

[ac6000cw]

I think any scheme is going to cost money to administer, and that cost will have to be born by the users.

At the end of the day e-bikes and e-scooters are motorised vehicles, so a modest annual charge for a simple safety inspection & re-certification, in exchange for being able to take them on public transport seems reasonable to me.

 

[Harpers Tate]

At the end of the day e-bikes and e-scooters are motorised vehicles...

The thing that sets "approved" EBikes apart from various other non-approved types (notably the sort used by many Deliveroos etc.,) and from EScooters is that they are not self-propelled. So in that sense, they are emphatically not motorised vehicles. They are limited in the power of the motor, the speed up to which the motor may assist and, importantly, HAVE to be pedalled by the rider before there is any output from the motor*. And in all respects, they are legally considered to be bicycles.

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* some legally have a walking assist mode which will self-propel the thing at very low power output and very low speed.

 

[ChrisC]

The thing that sets "approved" EBikes apart from various other non-approved types (notably the sort used by many Deliveroos etc.,) and from EScooters is that they are not self-propelled. So in that sense, they are emphatically not motorised vehicles. They are limited in the power of the motor, the speed up to which the motor may assist and, importantly, HAVE to be pedalled by the rider before there is any output from the motor*. And in all respects, they are legally considered to be bicycles.

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* some legally have a walking assist mode which will self-propel the thing at very low power output and very low speed.

I have a folding e-bike which is approved, very expensive when I purchased it, and I have it serviced by a very reputable dealer every year. Although the motor does assist, especially when setting off and on hills, even when in boost mode on hills it is not self-propelled. I have to pedal as on a standard bike, it is just not such hard work. If I stop peddling the motor stops assisting. There is no way that I can whizz along at speed without pedalling as many of these delivery people do. I’ve seen them travelling on these large wheeled adapted bikes without peddling at all just as though they were on a motorbike. When riding mine I also don’t wear a hoodie and a mask covering most of my face!