As electric bikes are becoming more popular there are more stories emerging of people getting fined for riding the 'wrong' sort.
The Guardia Civil have published (via their Facebook page) information about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in Spain:
Definition:
Bicycles with pedal assistance: A bicycle with an engine that does not exceed 0.5 Kw of power made to assist the rider as they pedal the bike. This engine must stop when either of the following occurs:
1. The rider stops pedalling.
2. The velocity reaches 25 km/h or more.
These vehicles do NOT require administrative authorisation. (or registration, or insurance)
The engine of these bicycles must only engage when the rider is pedalling and must stop the moment that a rider stops pedalling.
They must NOT contain an accelerator.
Bicycles that do not comply with these standards are not approved on public routes in accordance with the Ministry of Industry.
So basically if you ride one with a twist grip or other accelerator you could be fined....
Now whether this turns into an a-frame situation whereby there are lots of reports of people that know someone (or heard that someone, or a friend of someone that heard of someone etc etc) that got fined, we'll see.
But at least with the correct information each user can decide whether to take the risk :roll:
The Guardia Civil have published (via their Facebook page) information about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in Spain:
Definition:
Bicycles with pedal assistance: A bicycle with an engine that does not exceed 0.5 Kw of power made to assist the rider as they pedal the bike. This engine must stop when either of the following occurs:
1. The rider stops pedalling.
2. The velocity reaches 25 km/h or more.
These vehicles do NOT require administrative authorisation. (or registration, or insurance)
The engine of these bicycles must only engage when the rider is pedalling and must stop the moment that a rider stops pedalling.
They must NOT contain an accelerator.
Bicycles that do not comply with these standards are not approved on public routes in accordance with the Ministry of Industry.
So basically if you ride one with a twist grip or other accelerator you could be fined....
Now whether this turns into an a-frame situation whereby there are lots of reports of people that know someone (or heard that someone, or a friend of someone that heard of someone etc etc) that got fined, we'll see.
But at least with the correct information each user can decide whether to take the risk :roll: