Inexperienced e-Bike Riders [Local Problem?]

[classic33]

The largest single provider, of non legal ebikes, locally is a council contractor. They can often be seen racing the works vehicles on the roads on their way home. To cap it off, they've all been purchased on a bike to work scheme. Delimiting done either on site, or at the depot.

I do know that eyes were cast on Ireland last month, when the change in the law was actually brought in. To see how policing the issue went there.

Ireland's local elections are this Friday, so we'll be in with a chance to see how the changes have been accepted there.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

https://newsthump.com/2024/05/29/el...is-as-the-vehicle-of-choice-for-utter-pricks/

I know it's not real - but I feel like it might be

 

[mjr]

It's really curious to me that he dropped onto the road - almost as if he wanted to jump a red light - he could have continued on the shared cycle way and reached the crossing without doing that.

Maybe it's slightly faster, needing a less tight turn or similar. In general, English cycleways punish those doing the right thing and reward those willing to break laws such as red light jumping or cutting across non-shared footways, and risky behaviours such as yoyoing between cycleway and carriageway.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

https://road.cc/content/news/calls-delivery-cyclists-wear-numbered-jackets-308775

Residents in Glasgow calling for e-bike delivery cyclists to have numbered jackets because of concerns about those riding illegal e-bikes

 

[classic33]

https://road.cc/content/news/calls-delivery-cyclists-wear-numbered-jackets-308775

Residents in Glasgow calling for e-bike delivery cyclists to have numbered jackets because of concerns about those riding illegal e-bikes

Slight problem in that they have no registration to check, and I doubt they have insurance either.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

To be honest, I think it's down to the delivery companies to ensure that their riders (and drivers) are complying with the law / Highway Code.

And also properly remunerated so that they don't cut corners in order to generate sufficient income, but that's verging into NCAP territory so we will leave it there.

 

[mjr]

To be honest, I think it's down to the delivery companies to ensure that their riders (and drivers) are complying with the law / Highway Code.

So why do we bother having roads police if we simply believe the delivery company lies that all is fine?

 

[classic33]

To be honest, I think it's down to the delivery companies to ensure that their riders (and drivers) are complying with the law / Highway Code.

And also properly remunerated so that they don't cut corners in order to generate sufficient income, but that's verging into NCAP territory so we will leave it there.

The companies have said that their riders/drivers are complying with the law. However, most if not all of those you see on bikes are all self-employed, and fall outside of any action that that the companies can take against them.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

The companies have said that their riders/drivers are complying with the law. However, most if not all of those you see on bikes are all self-employed, and fall outside of any action that that the companies can take against them.

They may be self-employed, but they are fulfilling a contract. These companies use apps that track the food deliveries. If the riders are regularly achieving more than 25 km/hour they've got reasonable cause to suspect that an illegal e-bike is being used and should do further checks. They can suspend and ban riders if they are found to be riding non-compliant e-bikes, the same way Uber does with drivers which don't meet its standards.

 

[mjr]

They may be self-employed, but they are fulfilling a contract. These companies use apps that track the food deliveries. If the riders are regularly achieving more than 25 km/hour they've got reasonable cause to suspect that an illegal e-bike is being used and should do further checks. They can suspend and ban riders if they are found to be riding non-compliant e-bikes, the same way Uber does with drivers which don't meet its standards.

Uber Eats don't seem to suspend riders. Why would they unless the police start catching loads of their riders and causing bad publicity for them? They have little incentive to police their own riders and every incentive to allow illegally fast delveries.

 

[fossyant]

The companies have said that their riders/drivers are complying with the law. However, most if not all of those you see on bikes are all self-employed, and fall outside of any action that that the companies can take against them.

This, and there is no law for cyclists to have 'insurance', so technically all OK.

The only folk I have 'problems with' on my commutes are the delivery drivers, the odd 'ninja' on a Sur-ron(s), and the occasional 'modified' e-bike that flies past me on a shared use path.

The delivery riders are a menace - I get cut up by them near a particular part of my home commute. The Sur-ron's are bloody frightening with the speed and lack of noise, or pulling wheelies, swerving all over the place as you are on your bike and approaching you at 50 mph.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

I'd say coming into conflict with pedestrians is bad publicity. But I suspect they don't care about their reputation that much.

And it is simply not accurate to say that because someone is self-employed and working for a delivery company that no action can be taken against them.

It's just a matter of having the will.

 

[fossyant]

You do have to feel for the 'riders'. They aren't doing this because they love it. They are just trying to earn a crust. Many won't be able to get other jobs, and they can't be making much money, so trying to do a full day, every day, pedalling about, of course they will want to make it easier, and if a cheap 'illegal' kit can help them, then they will. I recon 95% of the bikes I see are retrofitted cheap BSO's for a reason - folk can't afford 'legal ones'.

Unless folk get off their bottoms and go out to collect food, then there is a market for delivery riders.

For example, the Maccy's a mile from me, has mainly car driving delivery folk - probably due to the delivery area and hills. The Maccy's/KFC that's on my commute, about 4 miles from my home is predominantly 'bikes' - much tighter delivery area/flat/higher concentration of homes/different demographic.

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

To be honest, I don't blame the delivery riders and I don't want to deprive them of a livelihood either.

The problem is, they are competing with each other and without any enforcement, of course they are going to do everything they can so that earn a profit and make ends meet.

I'm quite happy to pay more for food to be delivered on the occasions I order it, if it's going into the riders pocket. In fact, if I know it's being delivered legally on a bicycle, I'm definitely happy to pay more. What about the other customers? Can't say too much more otherwise the thread will belong somewhere else.

 

[presta]

Saw this today on X today.
I've seen the same on my cycle commute. They are a danger to others and themselves.


View: https://twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/1791230728333607015?s=19

It's interesting how the narrative on that thread is about jobsworths wasting their time victimising harmless hardworking people.