The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983

Approved by both Houses of Parliament

Made1st July 1983

Laid before Parliament8th July 1983

Coming into Operation12th August 1983

The Secretary of State for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 103(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 19671 and section 193(1) of the Road Traffic Act 19722, now vested in him3, and of all other enabling powers, and after consultation with representative organisations in accordance with section 107(2) of the said Act of 1967 and with section 199(2) of the said Act of 1972, hereby makes the following Regulations:—

1

These Regulations shall come into operation 14 days after the date on which they are approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

2

These Regulations may be cited as the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983.

2

In these Regulations—

“continuous rated output” has the same meaning as in the 1971 British Standard;
“kerbside weight”, in relation to an electrically assisted pedal cycle, means the weight of the cycle without any person on it and with no load other than the loose tools and equipment with which it is normally equipped;
“nominal voltage” means the nominal voltage of the battery as defined in the 1971 British Standard;
“the 1971 British Standard” means the specification for motors for battery operated vehicles published by the British Standards Institution under the reference 1727: 1971 as amended by Amendment Slip No. 1 published on 31st January 1973, Amendment Slip No. 2 published on 31st July 1974 and Amendment Slip No. 3 published on 31st March 1978; and
“tandem bicycle” means a bicycle which is designed to carry two or more persons at least two of whom can propel the vehicle at the same time.

3

The class of electrically assisted pedal cycles prescribed for the purposes of section 103 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 and section 193 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 consists of bicycles or tricycles which comply with the requirements specified in Regulation 4 below.

4

The requirements referred to in Regulation 3 above are that the vehicle shall:—

a

have a kerbside weight not exceeding—

i

in the case of a bicycle, other than a tandem bicycle, 40 kilograms, and

ii

in the case of a tandem bicycle and a tricycle, 60 kilograms;

b

be fitted with pedals by means of which it is capable of being propelled; and

c

be fitted with no motor other than an electric motor which—

i

has a continuous rated output which, when installed in the vehicle with the nominal voltage supplied, does not exceed—

A

in the case of a bicycle, other than a tandem bicycle, 0.2 kilowatts,

B

in the case of a tandem bicycle and a tricycle, 0.25 kilowatts; and

ii

cannot propel the vehicle when it is travelling at more than 15 miles per hour.

Tom KingSecretary of State for Transport1st July 1983

EXPLANATORY NOTE

1. These Regulations are made pursuant to section 24 of the Transport Act 1981 (which has been brought into force by the Transport Act 1981 (Commencement No. 9) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/576 (c.16))). That section provided for the addition to section 103 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 (by virtue of which certain vehicles are not treated as motor vehicles for the purposes of that Act) and section 193 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 (by virtue of which certain vehicles are not treated as motor vehicles for the purposes of that Act) of an electrically assisted pedal cycle of such class as may be prescribed by regulations.

2. By Regulation 3 of these Regulations the class of electrically assisted pedal cycles prescribed for the purposes of section 103 of the 1967 Act and section 193 of the 1972 Act are vehicles which comply with the requirements specified in Regulation 4. Certain terms used in these Regulations are defined in Regulation 2.

3. Copies of the British Standard, referred to in Regulation 2, are available from the British Standards Institution at 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9ND.