Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 (Hansard, 27 July 1983)

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth

My Lords, I beg to move the draft Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983. These regulations have been made and laid under powers contained in the road traffic Acts. Your Lordships will probably recall that Section 24 of the Transport Act 1981 makes provision for the removal of electrically assisted pedal cycles from the motor vehicle category under the road traffic Acts, and lays down a minimum riding age of 14 years. Riders will not require licences, insurance or safety helmets, and machines will be exempt from Motor Vehicles (Construction and use) Regulations and MOT vehicle testing arrangements. It is also intended that machines should be exempted from registration requirements, and separate amending regulations to effect this exemption will be laid after these regulations are approved. These regulations do no more than define the type of machine that will be able to take advantage of the concessions, and, if approved, they will come into effect almost immediately.

There has been a great deal of interest in, and support for, the proposals. Manufacturers have told us that there is a real market for such vehicles, and some have already received advance orders. The vehicle will be of particular help to the aged, handicapped and infirm, but will also benefit many people who simply want moderately priced, easy to use, inexpensive to operate and simple transport. The vehicles also provide something of a bonus from an environmental viewpoint, being essentially pollution-free.

Not unexpectedly, the manufacturers have been very keen for us to make the regulations quickly. It has, regretfully, taken rather longer than they would have liked, but there are quite good reasons for this. We had to be particularly sure that any of the vehicles that might be made and sold under these regulations will be safe to ride by both the experienced and inexperienced rider, particularly as Parliament set the minimum riding age limit at 14 years.

1606 I am satisfied that the specification laid down for these vehicles in these regulations, which we have gone into very thoroughly with the assistance of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, will ensure that they can be used safely. Their performance will, in fact, be rather worse than that of an energetically ridden pedal cycle, because the small electric motor will cut out if the vehicle exceeds 15 miles per hour. Riders will have to pedal for most of the time to stop the vehicle's battery from discharging too quickly. There is much less scope for recharging the battery in motion than with either a motorcycle or motor car. But those riders who may find it difficult to pedal for long periods will be able to use this amount of power from the motor quite independently of pedalling. This will of course considerably reduce both the speed and range of the vehicle, which in itself is affected not only by the gradients the rider is travelling upon but also by the weight being carried by the machine.

Further safety requirements will be contained in the proposed Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations. A number of noble Lords have spoken to me with regard to these regulations—in particular my noble friend Lord Ironside, who has a great interest in electric vehicles. They have welcomed these regulations. I hope that other noble Lords will also welcome these regulations. I commend the order to the House.