E-Bikes to be registered and licensed?

[Jaco Steyn]

The article is not posted on the 1st of April, so it must be an actual article.

According to this article: "A new amendment to the National Road Traffic Act, assented on 2 December 2024, stipulates that any electric pedal cycle that can operate in excess of 45km/h is now classified as a motor vehicle. As such, these two-wheelers must now be registered and licensed in South Africa, and the driver must have a license for that class of vehicle."

This most probably is going to cause quite a stir in the e-bike community. 

[Danger Dassie]

Not unreasonable, at some point it needs to fall into a moped category. Many markets have different categories of ebike, for good reason. If you can stick an average speed in excess of 45kmh on public roads, pedal assist or no, then it’s by logic no longer a bicycle. 

I remember one local brand guy bragging about their product offering being chipped upto 60km “you better gtf out the way” 

If anything the ‘E-bike community’ should welcome something like this. The article is a bit thin on the finer details of the amendment though. Also as good as the legislation may or not be, enforcement is another matter entirely. 

[zeerpuD1]

E-Bikes cut off at 25km/h or 32km/h for mtb’s depending on make. Road e-bikes  cut off at 45km/h (maybe less) so no problem there. If everything stays as supplied and not derestricted. 

[Lynskey]

Not our lady friend who did the argus. Hers must do about 50 I would say.

[NotSoBigBen]

14 minutes ago, zeerpuD1 said:

E-Bikes cut off at 25km/h or 32km/h for mtb’s depending on make. Road e-bikes  cut off at 45km/h (maybe less) so no problem there. If everything stays as supplied and not derestricted. 

Sadly that last sentence is where it all falls apart ... human nature is a strange thing

[ChrisF]

 

 

In summary, South African legislation has only made significant provision for E-bikes that are bicycles with pedals, have continuous power not exceeding 250watt and do not exceed 25km/h.

 

MANY of the e-delivery bikes do not comply with this, beit the speed assist speed, motor power, and many have a throttle.

[Danger Dassie]

17 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

 

In summary, South African legislation has only made significant provision for E-bikes that are bicycles with pedals, have continuous power not exceeding 250watt and do not exceed 25km/h.

 

MANY of the e-delivery bikes do not comply with this, beit the speed assist speed, motor power, and many have a throttle.

Rode one from a local white label supplier brand. Didn't even have to pedal, thumb throttle could easily take you up to 50kmh + on a flatish road. A horrible camo wrapped full suspension fat bike, no name suspension with inverted forks, weird disc brakes and apparently, a name brand motor which had no branding. No indication of suspension setup and stock standard it was horrific, especially the fork which made a massive clunk sound over anything remotely like a bump. 
Literally a death trap! 
The thing was/is a literal death trap! 

[ChrisF]

55 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Rode one from a local white label supplier brand. Didn't even have to pedal, thumb throttle could easily take you up to 50kmh + on a flatish road. A horrible camo wrapped full suspension fat bike, no name suspension with inverted forks, weird disc brakes and apparently, a name brand motor which had no branding. No indication of suspension setup and stock standard it was horrific, especially the fork which made a massive clunk sound over anything remotely like a bump. 
Literally a death trap! 
The thing was/is a literal death trap! 

 

Now when that thing bashes into your car .... It is you and your insurance .... most of us dont have the time or resources to try and get anything from that driver.  And as per the MrD business model, good luck trying to pin the damages on a business owner.

 

Only time these owners will show their face is when the traffic cops start impounding these things.

 

It is as easy as:

- battery - yes

- throttle - yes

- Licenced and registered - no

- IMPOUND ...

 

[DieselnDust]

Maybe IF Trump takes KFC away there will be enforcement

[Robbie Stewart]

10 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Maybe IF Trump takes KFC away there will be enforcement

he should. Who in their right mind eats that crap anyway . . .

[betaboy]

[Mook]

13 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

he should. Who in their right mind eats that crap anyway . . .

This is textbook "hate speech", given the broad definition applied by SA's judicial circus 🧐

[ChrisF]

Bit of history -

June 2020 Gert already commented on the ongoing efforts by our fearless leaders to deal with the ever changing landscape of e-mobility.

SA may be getting new rules on what qualifies as a bicycle – with big implications for e-bikes - Gert Nel Inc Attorneys

 

Worth noting that only a few weeks earlier the "vehicle codes" were updated - see attached.

 

This new round of publicity is as a result of the 10 December 2024 Gazetted latest set of rules for motor vehicles.  Mostly it reads the same as the older set, but now sub-paragraph (iv) have been added, dealing with "environmentally friendly vehicles" that exceed 45km/h. - new rules also attached.

 

Side by side the two sets of rules read as follows -

 

 

PS - The term "Environmentally friendly vehicle" is not defined in this document.  It does seem to be associated with electric cars, or in this case electric motorcycles.  This create an opening for using an e-scooter limited to below 45km/h, as a non-motor vehicle, i.e. non registered.  (not that I would want to be in traffic on a scooter that cant keep up with the cars)

 

PPS - The concept of a law being promulgated in December, then only being discussed a few months later is sadly an all too common occurrence !!  We see this most every Building code that is published.  We see the draft copy, it goes quiet for months often years, then you hear is was promulgated a month or three earlier.

 

PPPS - The topic of licenses for bicycles comes up every so often.  To date this is not in line with the "motor vehicle" Regulations.  As such any such fees would be in the form of a By-law, for and by each City or province.

 

 

In summary - NOTHING has changed in terms of bicycles nor e-bikes.  Not in terms of national regulations.

 

Now the difference between National laws being promulgated, and each province or large city publishing their own By-laws is a whole different topic.  My google searches only shows the City of Cape Town reaching out the Regulator asking for clarity on the new motor vehicle code.  No mention of a CoCT By-law on this, not yet.

Vehicles - April 2020.pdf Gazette 10 December 2024.pdf

[RobynE]

1 hour ago, betaboy said:

That is far too articulate to be a Saffa government document. 

[DieselnDust]

11 minutes ago, RobynE said:

That is far too articulate to be a Saffa government document. 

fake news.

note the phone number  people

[ChrisF]

18 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

fake news.

note the phone number  people

 

Most likely a 1 April post that is being copied without the orginal date ....

 

Saw a LOT of 1 April stuff being re-posted on Sunday.