The transport watchdog is rolling out a campaign to raise awareness about the legal requirements of owning a motorised bicycle, such as having registration and insurance cover.

This initiative by Transport Malta comes a week after a petition was launched calling for the regulation of these bicycles.

The petition, which so far has gathered nearly 500 signatures, refers to the incident on July 10 when a man was knocked down by a 17-year-old riding a motorised bicycle.

He was critically injured while crossing the road as the traffic lights were on red. The man is still in a critical condition within the hospital’s intensive therapy unit. “These motored bicycles do not come under any road legislation, the riders do not have to have a licence, they do not pay insurance or road tax, they do not have to wear safety helmets and do not have to be of a certain age,” the petition states.

However, in a statement issued yesterday, Transport Malta clarified that these bicycles were in fact regulated under the category of power-assisted pedal cycles.

According to regulations for this type of vehicle, riders must be at least 16 years old, in possession of a valid identification document, must have an insurance cover and observe normal traffic regulations.

Riders must be at least 16 years old and have a driving licence or a special permit issued by Transport Malta after having passed a theory test.

Transport Malta said it would be rolling out a campaign over the coming weeks to educate owners and retailers of such bicycles on these requirements.

Meanwhile, the Bicycle Advocacy Group stressed that pedlecs, or electrically assisted bicycles, were being encouraged by the EU as a healthy and sustainable form of travel.

They were neither fast nor powerful. The electric motor only operated when the bicycle was pedalled like a normal bicycle and the cut-out speed was 25km per hour.

The group said it had even suggested, in the last budget, an exchange or scrappage scheme to upgrade petrol-powered bicycles to pedlecs. This could help phase out the former.

The group launched a counter petition asking for a “rational and sensible discussion involving all stakeholders in setting a national cycling policy to encourage cycling in all its forms.”

Regulations state that power-assisted bicycles…

• must be registered with Transport Malta at a cost of €11.65

• must have an output of not more than 250 watts and a maximum speed of 25km/hr

• must be fitted with a functional bell or horn to give sufficient warning of its approach or position

• must be fitted with a well-positioned single front white lamp, rear red lamp or red reflector when used in the dark

• in the case of an internal combustion engine, it must have an exhaust system emitting a sound level of not more than 91dbA

• they cannot be ridden along a promenade, on footpaths, in pedestrian subways or through road tunnels

• must be ridden in the direction of traffic, keeping to the nearside left as much as possible and must observe all traffic regulations

• must be insured for third party risks

• drivers must wear a helmet and reflective strips or vest in the dark