London police crack down on rogue e-bike traders

Police in London are cracking down on retailers who sell de-restricted e-bikes or speed tuning kits.

Should the speed limits on e-bikes be increased?

By Cycling Weekly
published

London police and officers from the UK Trading Standards Institute (UKTSI) are preparing to crackdown on e-bike retailers who sell bikes to customers with de-restricted speed or speed tuning kits, which they say is potentially dangerous.

According to industry site Bike Europe, an unnamed e-bike dealer in the capital claims that the authorities told him that while e-bikes and speed tuning kits are safe in themselves, "combining the two items constitutes a new product. If the new product does not fall into any exemption class (for example, EPAC [the European standard for Electronically Power Assisted Cycles]), and has not been tested, it is assumed to be unsafe – irrespective of whether the bikes are used off or on road."

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Cycling Weekly

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.

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