Throttle as a safety feature.

[topstone]

In the UK an Ebike used on a public road cannot have a throttle fitted or go faster on electric than 25Km/h. Who the hell knows why? Its quite obvious that the ppl writing these laws have not consulted with the cycling community, and seem to have dreamt the rules up after one of their tax payer funded 6 course taster menus.
Throttles are most definitely a safety feature, as is being able to cycle faster than 15.6 mph when safe or necessary. Most of them have never ridden a bike, but just enact laws with no comeback on them, as a knee jerk reaction to someone causing an accident by riding one too fast.

 

[biknut]

In the UK an Ebike used on a public road cannot have a throttle fitted or go faster on electric than 25Km/h. Who the hell knows why? Its quite obvious that the ppl writing these laws have not consulted with the cycling community, and seem to have dreamt the rules up after one of their tax payer funded 6 course taster menus.
Throttles are most definitely a safety feature, as is being able to cycle faster than 15.6 mph when safe or necessary. Most of them have never ridden a bike, but just enact laws with no comeback on them, as a knee jerk reaction to someone causing an accident by riding one too fast

They're probably taking bribes from the motorcycle lobby.

 

[HoppyUK]

In the UK an Ebike used on a public road cannot have a throttle fitted or go faster on electric than 25Km/h... <snip>

It's not true that you cannot legally have a throttle in UK, although it's a common phrase I've heard a few times from bike sales folks. But they're lying, because they only sell premium mid-motor (eg Bosch) ebikes that don't have throttles.

In simple terms, the law says the throttle-only mode must be limited to 4mph, but when the pedals are turning the throttle can be unlimited. That's exactly how my RadRunner-Plus works and it has a CE/EPAC compliance sticker. In practise, 4mph is enough to get underway safely and be on the pedals again before the cut-off. As a workaround, it's fine.

Furthermore, if you really want a full-time throttle you can have one via a historical loophole in this legislative mess, by submitting your bike for individual testing and approval. Wisper bikes can have this done from new https://wisperbikes.com/full-throttle-option/

In practise, most of the ebikes I see around the UK have throttles and are often used without pedalling. This is clearly illegal but the police don't take any notice. They don't bother with escooters either, even though there are swarms of them and they're all illegal by definition (unless part of an approved hire scheme).

However, if you ride like a nob without consideration for others, you will eventually get pulled over and risk prosecution and confiscation. This happens from time to time, and is well publicised, when police do a round-up of all the ramshackle courier bikes with their blatantly obvious illegal and often lethal DIY conversions.

 

[HumanPerson]

In practise, most of the ebikes I see around the UK have throttles and are often used without pedalling. This is clearly illegal but the police don't take any notice. They don't bother with escooters either, even though there are swarms of them and they're all illegal by definition (unless part of an approved hire scheme).

However, if you ride like a nob without consideration for others, you will eventually get pulled over and risk prosecution and confiscation. This happens from time to time, and is well publicised, when police do a round-up of all the ramshackle courier bikes with their blatantly obvious illegal and often lethal DIY conversions.

 

[neutron]

Well 4 mph is better than nothing and it would help in a lot of situations, but not much help getting home if you couldn't pedal for some reason. I'm especially thinking of the time I had an accident and fractured my sternum. Knocked the wind out of me and I was in a lot of pain and in no condition to pedal. I was only about a mile away but if I had to pedal or walk the bike back, it would have been brutal. Throttle got me home for a car ride to the emergency room.

 

[Wendy Fraser]

I've had my ebike for almost five months now and have about 1000 miles on it so far. Based on my experience I'm convinced that having a throttle is a safety feature that should be recommended to anyone buying an ebike and also proposed as a safety feature to any legislators trying to regulate ebikes. It seems like the trend is to ban throttles as some kind of unnecessary feature that is abused by bikers using excess speed. I'm sure this happens but I think the safety aspect of a throttle is way more prevalent. For me, starting out using the throttle has a more balanced feel to the bike instead of pedaling to start off. I also rely on the throttle when maneuvering in tight areas or turns at low speed. I feel like I can better control and balance the bike at very low speed. I noticed when I went to get my motorcycle license, the biggest part of the riding test was to see how you handled the bike at low speed where balance was more difficult. They didn't care how you did at highway speeds, only how you managed at stop signs and low speed turns. If you had to put your foot down during a low speed turn you would fail the test. Using the throttle is just a safer way to ride in some instances and should be encouraged, not banned by law or ordinances passed by ignorant of the facts bureaucracies. If your local jurisdiction wants to ban ebikes with throttles, please write or call and explain how a throttle is a great safety feature and is especially good for senior citizens that might need a little extra help balancing in certain situations.

Could not agree less. I have had the unfortunate experience of having to ride a throttle ebike in a bike tour and never felt safe even once on it. As soon as you got on the bike and turned it on, it took off way to fast and one could loose control easily and fall or crash into someone or something. Our bike clubs in Edmonton, Alberta will not accept any ebike other than pedal assist and rightly so!! Good luck and hope you stay safe.

 

[jimthecanoeist]

The throttle on my e-bike is only used as an accessory for startup and slow maneuvering. Primary power is the crank. I would be sort of OK if my throttle were limited to some slow speed - like 10mph, but it ought to be my setting. Others might desire full power for grabbing extra help if caught in the wrong gear. This and other nanny state concerns need to be self-regulated or we can kiss the entire thing goodbye. If we want "safe" speeds, put up a speed limit and enforce it for all. Please, just leave us alone.

 

[LightningP38]

Maybe not every, but certainly a VERY large percentage.

I subscribe to the 80/20 rule…80% of the problems are caused by 20% of the riders.

 

[topstone]

Could not agree less. I have had the unfortunate experience of having to ride a throttle ebike in a bike tour and never felt safe even once on it. As soon as you got on the bike and turned it on, it took off way to fast and one could loose control easily and fall or crash into someone or something. Our bike clubs in Edmonton, Alberta will not accept any ebike other than pedal assist and rightly so!! Good luck and hope you stay safe.

I think this reply is a little bit shallow, bike handling is a skill that comes with experience, the author of the original post was saying that it helped him from a slow start, and he didn't lose control. Recently cities are rolling out e-scooters which are ALL throttle driven, and have less effective brakes that an e-bike with disk brakes. While e-bikes may be heavier, if 80-100 kgs his you at 15mph its going to hurt e-bike or e-scooter. the difference is, on an e-bike you have a better chance of stopping.

 

[neutron]

Could not agree less. I have had the unfortunate experience of having to ride a throttle ebike in a bike tour and never felt safe even once on it. As soon as you got on the bike and turned it on, it took off way to fast and one could loose control easily and fall or crash into someone or something. Our bike clubs in Edmonton, Alberta will not accept any ebike other than pedal assist and rightly so!! Good luck and hope you stay safe.

Sounds like you have a defective or poorly designed throttle. The bike should not lurch forward at the touch of the throttle. The throttle should gently nudge the bike when properly applied. If you just grab it and twist all the way or push a thumb throttle all the way open you've going to get a surge.

 

[m@Robertson]

Sounds like you have a defective or poorly designed throttle. The bike should not lurch forward at the touch of the throttle. The throttle should gently nudge the bike when properly applied. If you just grab it and twist all the way or push a thumb throttle all the way open you've going to get a surge.

Agreed. This is a combination of what is likely a poorly-designed cheap ebike (i.e. rental quality) and an (admittedly) inexperienced rider.

I've got my throttles set to slow-start. Words like 'crawl forward' and 'nudge' are spot on (at least initially). You couldn't get the bike to lurch forward unless you pushed it off of an embankment.