Delivery companies using electric bikes in Scotland should take more responsibility for the actions of their riders, according to Cycling Scotland. The call comes after a cyclist claimed he was mown down by an e-bike, leaving him “terrified” and with a serious injury. Ben Williams was cycling on a dedicated lane when he was hit by a food delivery courier travelling in the wrong direction. In hospital for a torn kidney, he says he wants to raise awareness of the dangers of electric bikes that are not used properly.
E-bikes, equipped with wide tyres and handlebar gloves, have become increasingly popular, ridden by couriers carrying food and other deliveries across cities in Scotland. Their use on Scottish roads is governed by legislation classifying them as electrically assisted pedal cycles. They are allowed on bike paths, cycle lanes, and roads but not on pavements. E-bikes must stop at stop signs and red lights, and hand signals must be used to turn. They can provide support up to 15.5 mph, after which point they must cut out; they are not allowed to travel faster without the sole power of pedalling.
With the growing use of such vehicles, calls for better police enforcement have grown to ensure the bikes are road-legal. There are also concerns about the big variations in the quality of electric cycles, with some not meeting safety standards, however, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, David Kennedy said there were too few police on the streets to deal with the issue.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More