10 signatures reached
To: The Department of Transport
Increase the 15.5mph speed limit on electric bikes to 25mph.
Raise the speed limit on electric bikes to 25mph, to match the typical speed of a fit cyclist.
Why is this important?
Electric bikes are a cheap, light, efficient and environmentally friendly mode of transport, which can travel 66 times further than a car on the same amount of energy. This approximates to 2,000 mpg. They are also far safer for other road users and cause significantly less congestion and pollution, while also reducing wear and tear on the roads. The problem is the arbitrary 15.5mph top speed imposed on electric bikes. There seems no good reason for this, other than to support the car-making and fossil fuel sectors. 15.5mph is fine in a city, but it makes electric bikes impractical for moderate to long-distance commutes on open roads, where they are significantly slower than pedal-powered bikes. It is precisely in the 15-25mph range where you need mechanical assistance, and this is where it is currently banned.
