The government is currently considering a change to the law that would allow Electric Personal Vehicles (EPV), such as the Segway, to be used on the roads and cycle tracks. Consideration does not include use of pedestrianised areas or pedestrian footways, but does apply to their use on existing shared pedestrian / pedal cycle use areas.
One of the few designs of MPV to make it to market is the Segway (pictured right), which is currently illegal to ride in Britain other than on private property.
| The Segway’s performance | … at a glance |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 12mph |
| Range | 24 miles |
| Charging time | 8 hours |
| Cost | £4,400 |
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Nobody knows what the demand for such vehicles will be – it may be that the Segway one day finds itself in a museum alongside the Sinclair C5, another expensive electric vehicle that failed because it was unable to compete with the bicycle. It is important that cyclists and other concerned parties make time to have their say now.”
Have your say on the future of the EPV
Please cut and paste the following table into the body of an email, complete your answers and reply by 5th March 2010 to etaconsultations@eta.co.uk
Please do not feel it necessary to answer all the questions as some may require specialist knowledge.
Your responses will be confidential and will not be published or passed outside the ETA unless we have your permission to do so in writing.
| EPVs | Government consultation 2010 |
|---|---|
| Name | … |
| Supporter/Membership/Customer Number if known | … |
| Email address | … |
| Date | … |
| Q1. In principle, do you think that the use of currently ‘non-compliant’ EPVs on public roads should be permitted? | Yes/No |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q2. In principle, do you think that the use of EPVs on public cycle lanes / tracks should be permitted here? | Yes/No |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q3. Of the following modes of transport, which do you use and which if any might you replace or supplement with an EPV? Car, Motorcycle, pedal cycle, bus, train, tube, taxi, walking, other | … |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q4. If ‘non-compliant’ EPVs were permitted to use public roads and / or cycle facilities, should they (so that they and their owners / users can be traced) be required, in the same way as other powered vehicles, to be registered and fitted with a registration plate? | Yes/No |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | |
| Q5. If ‘non-compliant’ EPVs were permitted to use the carriageway of public roads and / or cycle facilities, should they be required, in the same way as normal motor vehicles, to be insured? | Yes/No |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q6. If ‘non-compliant’ EPVs were permitted to use the carriageway of public roads and / or cycle facilities, should their users be required, in the same way as those using other motor vehicles, to hold a driving licence of some kind (so as to demonstrate a level of competence relating to road/vehicle use)? | Yes/No |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q7. Should there be a minimum age for EPV users riding EPVs on public roads and cycle tracks? | Yes/No |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q8. Cycles and electrically-assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) are sometimes permitted to share space prohibited to other traffic. In some instances pedestrians also use such shared space. Should the use of such shared facilities be extended to EPVs? | … |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q9. Cyclists are permitted to use the carriageway of public roads (with exceptions such as motorways). They therefore share space with other traffic such as cars, vans and lorries. Do you think EPVs would be more at risk than cycles when sharing space with other road traffic? | Yes/No |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q10. If ‘non-compliant’ EPVs were permitted on the carriageway of public roads, which of the following types of road should they be permitted to use? Motorways, dual carriageways, roads with a speed limit over 30mph, roads with a speed limit of under 30mph | … |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q11. Which of the following sort of road journeys do you think it most likely that EPVs would be used? commuting (up to about 5 miles), commuting over 5 miles, leisure activities, shopping trips, use by emergency services, other | … |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q12. If legislation to permit road use of ‘non-compliant’ EPVs was to be considered, which if any of the following requirements do you think should be specified in defining the type of vehicles to be permitted? maximum power, power source (electric motor), number of wheels, length and width, height, stability, maximum speed, braking / acceleration, other | … |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q13. Most motor vehicles used on public roads must meet certain minimum safety and environmental standards. Once they are three years old they are subject to annual in-use assessment (MOT). Pedal cycles are subject to pre-sale regulations and to product safety regulations, but not to MOT requirements. Should ‘non-compliant’ EPVs be subject to any of the following: initial roadworthiness approval, roadworthiness testing annually, once each vehicle is three years old, other | … |
| Please explain your reasons and add any additional comments you wish to make | … |
| Q14. Most two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles used on public roads fall within the scope of the European Type Approval regime (or a national equivalent) which sets minimum safety and environmental requirements for such vehicles. This question is directed mainly to consultees with knowledge in this field but views from others would also be welcome. Should EPVs be required to achieve type approval before being permitted to use the public carriageway? | Yes/No |
| Q15. Please add any further comments, including views on any potential benefits, concerns about possible misuse, ideas on enforcement issues, points about regulatory burdens, costs or any other relevant matters | … |
Cycle insurance
Every cycle insurance policy from the ETA covers against theft, vandalism and accidental damage (even at race events) and includes third party insurance, personal accident cover, bicycle breakdown cover and more.
0 Comments View now