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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think electric bikes are a total menace?

178 replies

RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:05

I am not a cyclist hating motorist. But OMG those electric bikes. Regularly drive into Glasgow city centre and they appear to be the transport of choice for people working for Just Eat or Deliveroo.

The electric bikes are FAST. Far quicker than a normal cycle, easily the speed of the cars/lorries/vans. They are not licensed, the riders aren't required to wear helmets, very few have lights back/front, they zip in and out of traffic, through red lights. Accident waiting to happen.

Why are these bikes not classed as motorbikes, requiring a driving licence, r, tax etc?

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 30/04/2023 12:08

You lost me on 'drive into Glasgow City Centre'. Are you too tall for the Subway?

TooOldForThisNonsense · 30/04/2023 12:09

They are not the speed of motor vehicles. The electric powered assistance switches off at 15.5 mph. Some of the riders do ride like assholes but that’s not the fault of the bike.

FlounderingFruitcake · 30/04/2023 12:10

They’re not faster. In fact in the UK the speed of them is limited so the motor can’t propel it faster than 15.5 mph. A reasonably fit cyclist on a half decent non electric road bike can manage that no problem. Bad cycling and no lights is another matter entirely though but you get plenty of bad drivers, that’s not a cycling thing.

Original poster
RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:11

LlynTegid · 30/04/2023 12:08

You lost me on 'drive into Glasgow City Centre'. Are you too tall for the Subway?

We do not have a subway station near us.

So yes, I drive. Because it's cheaper, faster and 100 times more convenient than the one bus per hour, which takes an hour.

OP posts:
AgnesX · 30/04/2023 12:12

Generally they're pests but the ones that enrage me are the electric scooters that just weave in and out of people on the pavement.

Original poster
RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:13

Wasn't aware that the speed was capped. It still seems "fast" especially as they get up to that speed from a standing start - a normal cyclist would take a while to get up to that speed, or only on a downhill bit.

OP posts:
Original poster
RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:13

Don't see as many electric scooters here. We were in Paris pre-pandemic and saw so many near misses there, I think they're now talking about banning them completely

OP posts:
Hobbitfeet32 · 30/04/2023 12:15

Good point, not just imagine how much more dangerous a car is-bigger, heavier, faster and taking up much more room. I’m glad you’ve realised and will slow down in your car.

Thesharkradar · 30/04/2023 12:15

I am aghast all these electric bikes, I can't believe people are so lazy, cycling is such a easy low intensity exercise and they can't even fucking manage that
Pathetic weak people 👻

Original poster
RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:16

I understand why if you are a delivery rider who is paid per delivery, you want to go as fast as possible.

OP posts:
Againstmachine · 30/04/2023 12:18

TooOldForThisNonsense · 30/04/2023 12:09

They are not the speed of motor vehicles. The electric powered assistance switches off at 15.5 mph. Some of the riders do ride like assholes but that’s not the fault of the bike.

But many people are on illegal electric bikes that aren't capped and require no peddling and have a throttle, most of the assholes areon that sort.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 30/04/2023 12:19

RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:13

Wasn't aware that the speed was capped. It still seems "fast" especially as they get up to that speed from a standing start - a normal cyclist would take a while to get up to that speed, or only on a downhill bit.

They don’t get to that speed from a standing start! They aren’t mopeds. You have to pedal them and get going as you do on a normal bike and they are quite heavy so they don’t get to 15.5 mph right away. They are not mopeds. They are normal bikes with electric assistance. I have one and I love it but my husband with a normal bike still goes faster than me.

Original poster
RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:19

I have seen lots of people riding electric bikes and not pedalling. I wouldn't know how to tell the difference between a legal or illegal bike (and I would expect most other people wouldn't either)

OP posts:
TooOldForThisNonsense · 30/04/2023 12:19

Sorry didn’t mean to say they aren’t mopeds twice!

icanneverthinkofnc · 30/04/2023 12:19

I know some locals who rewired both ebikes and scooters, so they exceed the limiters. So, although technically they are limited, some will definitely be going faster. police aren't bothered to stop them

Somebodiesmother · 30/04/2023 12:20

Thesharkradar · 30/04/2023 12:15

I am aghast all these electric bikes, I can't believe people are so lazy, cycling is such a easy low intensity exercise and they can't even fucking manage that
Pathetic weak people 👻

Do you cycle everywhere?

TooOldForThisNonsense · 30/04/2023 12:20

RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:19

I have seen lots of people riding electric bikes and not pedalling. I wouldn't know how to tell the difference between a legal or illegal bike (and I would expect most other people wouldn't either)

You can freewheel them same as a normal bike

Original poster
RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:20

They don’t get to that speed from a standing start! They aren’t mopeds. You have to pedal them and get going as you do on a normal bike

This isn't what I've seen, people zooming off from traffic lights or a stop and not pedalling at all.

OP posts:
Thesharkradar · 30/04/2023 12:22

Somebodiesmother · 30/04/2023 12:20

Do you cycle everywhere?

Show quote history

No, sometimes I walk and sometimes I run

TooOldForThisNonsense · 30/04/2023 12:22

RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:13

Don't see as many electric scooters here. We were in Paris pre-pandemic and saw so many near misses there, I think they're now talking about banning them completely

Electric scooters are a pain in the arse. We were in Bristol when they were trialling them and they were a fucking menace. People weaving between pavement and road without looking where they were going

ThinWomansBrain · 30/04/2023 12:23

there are several competing hire bike schemes near me - I think some are electric, others not,
It's not when they are in use that bothers me - I think lime bikes in particular must give discounts to users that leave them in the most inappropriate places where pedestrians are most likely to fall over them or have to walk in the road to get around them
Monstrosities.

icanneverthinkofnc · 30/04/2023 12:24

Ebikes have their place when they are the assisted pedalling variety. In a hillier area, people who wouldn't ride at all can get going with some assistance up the hills. For those trying to regain fitness but would end up pushing more than riding without a bit of oomph uphills I can understand the attraction. The ones I think the OP is seeing are effectively electric motorbikes.

Againstmachine · 30/04/2023 12:24

RandomGeocache · 30/04/2023 12:20

They don’t get to that speed from a standing start! They aren’t mopeds. You have to pedal them and get going as you do on a normal bike

This isn't what I've seen, people zooming off from traffic lights or a stop and not pedalling at all.

Those ones have a throttle and are illegal.

Shade17 · 30/04/2023 12:24

They’re not faster. In fact in the UK the speed of them is limited so the motor can’t propel it faster than 15.5 mph.

There’s loads of illegal ones near me, they can go significantly quicker than 15.5mph and have throttles rather than pedal assist. Ridden by complete bellends with no regard for other road users.

spiderplantparty · 30/04/2023 12:24

I think I have seen the type of bike the OP is referring to. They are not normal e bikes and operate more like an electric scooter or a moped. They seem to be faster than 15mph and I think it is likely any limiters have been bypassed.