The Bicycling Advocacy Group said today that while it had the utmost sympathy for the man who was hit and seriously injured by a motorised bicycle last week, it was against the petition launched to regulate electric bicycles.
The group said that such bicycles are already covered by legislation under the Pedal and Low Powered Cycles Regulations of 2004.
Secondly the petition title seemed to specifically target electric bicycles, whereas the comments noted in the Times website article yesterday and the bicycle pictured (see above) refer to a petrol powered machine.
"As such it is unclear if the petition is against petrol powered or electrically powered bicycles, or pedlecs (electrically assisted bicycles) or if anti-petrol engine sentiment is being used to drive the petition forward."
BAG aid that pedlecs are neither fast nor powerful; the electric motor only operates when the bicycle is pedalled like a normal bicycle, the motor cutting out at speeds over 25kmh.
"The EU is specifically encouraging pedelecs because this is regarded as a healthy and sustainable form of travel which primarily allows older and less fit people to cycle," the group said.
"The EU recommends that they are regarded separately, as one would a normal bicycle as pedlecs only add significant assistance when cycling up hill and reduce the sweat factor, often cited as barriers to the potential uptake of bicycle commuting."
Pedlecs were therefore a much safer option for those needing assistance to cycle and were therefore not to be confused with petrol engine bicycles.
BAG said it had suggested in the last Budget that the government introduce an exchange/scrappage scheme for petrol machines to upgrade to pedlecs.
"Although such machines, and all road vehicles should be driven responsibly, BAG feels that the accident and people’s concerns actually have far more to do with poor enforcement of the existing regulations," the group said, adding that such enforcement, and enforcement of traffic laws in general, should be increased.
The group said that while it understood the frustration and anger of the victim and his family, cyclists in Malta have also been seriously injured and some killed by drivers who were both licensed and insured, yet very little action seemed to have been forthcoming in these cases.