From Newsgroup: rec.bicycles.tech
Ted Heise <
theise@panix.com> wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:25:02 -0500,
AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
cyclingindustry.news/survey-exposes-publics-confusion-over-legal-electric-bikes-industry-launches-e-bike-positive-trust-mark
Interesting. I took special note of "the legal speed at which an
eBikerCOs motor must stop assisting the ride (the answer is
15.5mph),"
Realizing this is reportedly for the UK, it still strikes me as
perhaps too low for some settings. On one hand, 15.5 mph seems
good for trail use (i.e., when mixing with pedestrians). On the
other hand, I've been on plenty of group rides where a rider or
two are using the e-assist to keep up with 18-20 mph group speeds.
Maybe that other hand shouldn't be street legal, though.
On E MTB assuming yourCOre doing more than fire roads itrCOs fine, as speeds tend to be lower than that, and in general MTB has become more gravity
focused.
For utility bikes, again itrCOs fine, is a somewhat jarring cut off on the dockless hire bikes. Which doesnrCOt seem the to be the same on E MTB so is probably due to fairly agricultural and cheap drive the dockless bikes use.
Considering how and where commuters and utility bikes are used ie lot of
mixing with pedestrians having a reasonable limit seems fine.
A E bike roadie is rather rare, I have seen them but they are largely
missing the point, unless itrCOs the very social rides.
Hence E bikes seem to be cargo/dockless/MTB as thatrCOs where they fit well.
Looking at the US and even other places that have allowed E bikes with
higher speeds this has driven up casualties and generally made trails/bike paths more hostile places. In short the 15.5 mph limit of assistance seems about right, and in that sense does work.
Roger Merriman
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