The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983

Made: 1st July 1983

Laid before Parliament: 8th July 1983

Coming into Operation: 12th August 1983

The Secretary of State for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 103(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967[^f00001] and section 193(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1972[^f00002], now vested in him[^f00003], 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

• (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.

Signed

Tom King — Secretary of State for Transport — 1st July 1983

Explanatory note

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Footnotes

[^f00001]: section 103(1) of which Act has been amended by section 24 of the Transport Act 1981 (c. 56).

[^f00002]: section 193(1) of which Act has been amended by section 24 of the Transport Act 1981.

[^f00003]: As regards by S.I. 1970/1681, 1979/571 and 1981/238 and as regards by S.I. 1979/571 and 1981/238.