Police or transport officers can now order pedelecs off the road if they have not been registered, after a plea to put penalties on hold fell on deaf ears.

The sanction came into force this month following a warning issued by Transport Malta in August.

“Officers from the police or Transport Malta will be verifying if such vehicles being used on the road are registered and if not they will order their removal in accordance with the provisions of the Traffic Regulation Ordinance,” a spokesman for the transport watchdog said.

However, cyclists have encountered significant problems trying to register their electric bicycles, according to the spokesman for the Bicycling Advocacy Group, Jim Wightman, although he added it had become a bit easier in recent days.

The group has been calling for a moratorium on the need to register but has not yet heard from the authorities.

Unlike bikes which run on petrol, pedelecs have an electric motor that switches off when the rider reaches 25km/hr or stops pedalling.

Read more in the Times of Malta.