11 April 2013

Pedalecs coming to Canberra

| johnboy
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pedelec

Simon Corbell has announced that he’s raising the power ceiling on electric bicycles from an anaemic 200 watts up to 250 watts to allow pedalecs onto our roads:

“The changes to the laws that the government is proposing through the Road Transport (General) Amendment Bill, will allow higher performance electric bikes (pedalecs) under the European standard, up to a maximum continuous power rating of 250 watts, to be used in the Territory. The current laws limit electric bikes to a maximum peak power of 200 watts.

“Pedalecs also have additional safety and design requirements consistent with European standards, as well as advantages such as greater performance on hills and extended range on long journeys.”

Riders will be required to adhere to bicycle road rules, such as wearing a bicycle helmet which meets the Australian Standard. The changes are being introduced following a 2012 agreement across Australian jurisdictions to allow the import, sale and use of European style electric bikes.

Mr Corbell said he hoped the new laws would promote greater choice of electric bicycles for cyclists choosing that option.

While many Chinese electric bikes have outputs in the thousands of watts the European pedelecs (I assume they’re the same thing) require the rider to put some work in and cuts out the juice at 25km/h.

[Image via wikimedia commons]


UPDATE: The Greens’ Shane Rattenbury has expressed his pleasure at this move.

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I nearly took out someone riding one of these electric bikes in the middle of a suburban street last week.

He was coming on my right at an intersection in a residential area with a sign posted 50 kph limited.

I looked right and he was about 100 metres away, I looked left and nothing was coming, I looked right again and he was 10 metres away and not pedalling. I thought “how on earth is this bike going so fast (it was travelling well over 50 kph)”.

It was a very chunky type mountain bike and it was humming loudly.

I thought these things only operated as “pedal assisted” so have the laws changed to allow them to exceed the speed limit and ride up the middle of the road?

Another reason why we need rego for bikes and licensing for their intrepid riders.

davo101 said :

what_the said :

Apparently the depart of infrastructure who approves importation of all vehicles hasn’t been notified as they implemented the 200w cap in the first place due to gas powered kids scooters and subsequent injuries. Any bike over 200w needs import approval and needs to meet with ADRs for LA and LC vehicles (mopeds and scooters) meaning lights, mirrors, indicators etc are needed. Their current information still states this.

Shock! There’s a web-site that’s not kept up to date? See here.

Ha, that’s funny considering it’s his department’s website/bulletin. I suppose a year in public service time is equal to a week in real time. Probably need ten meetings first before the updates get started.

what_the said :

Apparently the depart of infrastructure who approves importation of all vehicles hasn’t been notified as they implemented the 200w cap in the first place due to gas powered kids scooters and subsequent injuries. Any bike over 200w needs import approval and needs to meet with ADRs for LA and LC vehicles (mopeds and scooters) meaning lights, mirrors, indicators etc are needed. Their current information still states this.

Shock! There’s a web-site that’s not kept up to date? See here.

Pitchka said :

Check post #8, it has a link, the link takes you to a web page, which then has more links, its all very exciting…

If you’re still not happy, call them, and talk to one of their staff.

P.S. ring me when you are about to have lunch, ill pop over to your place and hand feed you!!!!

Seriously? Mutter mutter Obvious troll Mutter mutter

I didn’t know there was an award for seeing how many threads you could be a Wally Anker in?

Kurrajong – I believe the new Bike shop/cafe opposite the Canberra Time building also stocks these bikes. As a bonus the coffee is quite good 🙂

Kurrajong said :

This thread is heading off-topic.
So, to reiterate my request: Can anyone else provide comment on “brands, costs, reliability and after sales service? What represents best bang-for-your-buck for these little mobiles?”
Are there any people with e-bikes out there who have a view?
Thanks.

Check post #8, it has a link, the link takes you to a web page, which then has more links, its all very exciting…

If you’re still not happy, call them, and talk to one of their staff.

P.S. ring me when you are about to have lunch, ill pop over to your place and hand feed you!!!!

Apparently the depart of infrastructure who approves importation of all vehicles hasn’t been notified as they implemented the 200w cap in the first place due to gas powered kids scooters and subsequent injuries. Any bike over 200w needs import approval and needs to meet with ADRs for LA and LC vehicles (mopeds and scooters) meaning lights, mirrors, indicators etc are needed. Their current information still states this.

This thread is heading off-topic.
So, to reiterate my request: Can anyone else provide comment on “brands, costs, reliability and after sales service? What represents best bang-for-your-buck for these little mobiles?”
Are there any people with e-bikes out there who have a view?
Thanks.

well pedalecs aren’t even legal yet so it’s going to take a while to get a market.

gungsuperstar3:21 am 12 Apr 13

Reprobate said :

… and the ACT Govt keeps fiddling for the entertainment of Mayor Rattenbury while Canberra continues to burn…

So are these going to be called Ratt bikes instead of Pedalecs here?

Oh my God… is that what that heat is? “Canberra burning” all around me?

Obvious troll is troll.

Canberra’s in good shape, and any policy that encourages people to be more active and decreases congestion should be supported.

Especially policies which require about 2 hours of debate in the chamber and no expenditure on additional infrastructure.

So, what’s the problem? Because your thinly-veiled swipe at the Government missed the mark here, based on the fact that it’s about as simple a legislative change as you’re ever likely to encounter.

… and the ACT Govt keeps fiddling for the entertainment of Mayor Rattenbury while Canberra continues to burn…

So are these going to be called Ratt bikes instead of Pedalecs here?

MERC600 said :

Could you get done for DUI on these things ? .. not that I would anticipate the footpaths full of full leccy bike types..

Yes. You can also get done for DUI riding a regular bike. For that matter, you can be done DUI riding a horse.

Felix the Cat3:00 pm 11 Apr 13

MERC600 said :

Could you get done for DUI on these things ?

Yes, you can go DUI on regular push bike, a horse, a mobility scooter and possibly even a wheelchair

Could you get done for DUI on these things ? .. not that I would anticipate the footpaths full of full leccy bike types..

johnboy said :

The issue with 200 watts was an australian only standard it made them outrageously expensive.

By using a major international standard we can get some economies of scale.

Also, if the wording of the media release is to be believed, the change is from maximum 200w peak power to maximum 250w continuous power.

anaemic 200 watts.

Given that the sustained output of your bog-standard non-leet cyclist is 100W it’s not that bad.

The issue with 200 watts was an australian only standard it made them outrageously expensive.

By using a major international standard we can get some economies of scale.

SEEChangeIncCanberra12:01 pm 11 Apr 13

If it makes a differnce, then I guess I should say that everyone gets fantastic service. Sheez. Some people are so picky – I was just trying to avoid the standard advertising hyperbole.
SEE-Change members get a discount because SEE-Change has negotiated an agreement with Switched on Cycles. Is that very difficult to understand? Or should I say incredibly difficult? Extremely difficult? hugely difficult?

Pitchka said :

Johnboy, time to bring in the ability to edit posts!!!

Take out a premium membership.

Pitchka said :

SEEChangeIncCanberra said :

SEE-Change members get a discount at Switched on Cycles. Everyone gets good service and advice on a great range of products. http://www.switchedoncycles.com.au/

Any reason why the average Joe wouldnt be entitlted to a discount? Good service, not great?

Its like Maccas offering free food to its customers.

Should have read ” Its like Maccas offering free food to its fat customers”

Johnboy, time to bring in the ability to edit posts!!!

SEEChangeIncCanberra said :

SEE-Change members get a discount at Switched on Cycles. Everyone gets good service and advice on a great range of products. http://www.switchedoncycles.com.au/

Any reason why the average Joe wouldnt be entitlted to a discount? Good service, not great?

Its like Maccas offering free food to its customers.

+1 for more power (to get up hills) but 25km/h is probably high enough for anyone who doesn’t have the capacity to get over that speed under their own steam.

This is all moot anyway. There are plenty of overpowered electric and petrol powered bicycles around town. The petrol ones are easier to spot but I have yet to see anything pulled over. As well, aren’t there commercially available electric bikes where you can reprogram the power (via computer and USB) to suit whether you are on or off road? Who’s to say what the programmed power would be?

SEEChangeIncCanberra10:29 am 11 Apr 13

SEE-Change members get a discount at Switched on Cycles. Everyone gets good service and advice on a great range of products. http://www.switchedoncycles.com.au/

As a spread out city with comparatively excellent bike paths I’d prefer to have seen an even more generous power rating and faster speed limit. I imagine these changes will make pedelecs very popular for people living in the inner suburbs riding to work. However, people commuting from outer suburbs probably want more speed available to them. In China 500+ watt units are the transport of choice for a very significant portion of the population in all but the most hilly cities. In Canberra this could take a great many cars off the road.

Clearly we’d need some enforceable rules about where and how fast you could ride your 1000Watt beast but if cyclist-pedestrian flame wars are anything to go by we need some of that already. E.g. there’s no reason you couldn’t do 45kmph on Adelaide avenue (some unassisted riders are doing that anyway) but you’d be well served not to ‘buzz’ walkers having a leisurely stroll around Lake Tuggeranong.

So Simon, can I still ride my previously 100% legal 200W manual throttle ebike? Pedelecs are terrible.

My first step would be Pushys in Fyshwick. They have a wide range. (My first step, not necessarily the best step for everyone. Would appreciate other views as well).

To all and sundry, what are people’s views on brands, costs, reliability and after sales service?
The policy change sounds sensible and I’m seriously tempted to now buy one.
What represents best bang-for-your-buck for these little mobiles?

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