"E-Bikes are bicycles, not motorbikes": EU Court rules e-bikes as not capable of causing "damage comparable to motorcycles"; Chris Froome’s new bike with disc brakes; £32k karma for not restoring cycle path; Penny-farthing stunts + more on the live blog

Kicking the day off with a landmark ruling from the other side of the Channel, the Court of Justice of the European Union has declared that e-bikes are bicycles, instead of motorbikes because "it is not propelled exclusively by mechanical power".

The Court, ruling on a case brought forward following the death of a cyclist using an e-bike in Bruges, Belgium after being hit by a motorist, was faced with the question whether an e-bike can be classified as a "motor vehicle".

The ruling said: "The bicycle’s motor merely provided pedal assistance, including through the use of a ‘boost’ function. Moreover, that ‘boost’ function could be activated only after the use of muscular power (by pedalling, by walking with the bicycle or by pushing it)."

> Amsterdam looking to set a 20kph speed limit on e-bikes

The legal classification of the bicycle in question turned out to be crucial in order to determine whether the victim was the driver of a ‘motor vehicle’ or whether there would be eligibilty for automatic compensation as a ‘vulnerable road user’ under Belgian law.

The court concluded that e-bikes "do not appear to be capable of causing bodily or material damage to third parties comparable to the damage that may be caused by motorcycles, cars, trucks or other vehicles propelled exclusively by mechanical power."

Earlier this year, road.cc had found out that Hammersmith and Fulham Council had implemented a ban on e-bikes and e-scooters from part of Thames Path, after the council approved a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), although those using them as mobility aids, or individuals such as parents or carers transporting children were exempt.

> E-bike safety: What to avoid when buying an e-bike, battery or charger

At the consultation stage, 68.2 per cent of 1,233 respondents were in favour of the proposed prohibition of the use of e-scooters and e-bikes, with 27.3 per cent voting 'no', 3.8 per cent 'maybe' and 0.7 per cent 'unsure'.

Addressing the proposed PSPO for 'reckless cycling' H&F had ultimately decided to listen to concerns about "discouraging the use of pedal cycles as a healthy means of transport to and from work"

Cyclists in the London Borough of Hackney are to hold a protest calling for safer streets after two people were killed while riding their bikes there in the past six weeks, and say that repeated calls for safety improvements to be made have been ignored.

> Hackney cyclists to protest following two deaths in borough in recent weeks

I know I know, I don't need another excuse to indulge in my sweet tooth and open another chocolate bar, but hey, turns out there's some other health benefits you can enjoy by eating some of the good brown stuff, other than the obvious fuelling purposes on rides!

A cycle and e-bike insurer cycleGuard has discovered what benefits does chocolate have for cyclists. Chocolate, which is made up of a higher percentage of cocoa can be an effective recovery source after exercise (great!). Cocoa also contains antioxidants which can help to treat inflammation and muscle soreness. And of course, it has enough carbohdrates that can help you refuel and replace muscle glycogen after a tiring ride.

> Official: Daily chocolate consumption makes you a better cyclist

Besides, an American study carried out in 2017 found that dark chocolate, along with almonds, managed to reduce the levels of "bad" cholesterol in the body. While dark chocolate on its own is not going to build-up the power in cyclist’s legs for those long and arduous hill climbs, it may be able to help them prepare for it. Cocoa also contains a number of amino acids, such as leucine, which are needed for muscle growth and repair.

And finally, a study by Kingston University investigated the effect that flavanols had on the body during exercise and had nine ‘moderately trained' cyclists replace a snack with 40g of dark chocolate in their daily diet for two weeks. Dark chocolate is particularly rich in flavanols, a group of natural compounds from plants which have antioxidant-like effects on the body and can also be found in things like tea.

The study suggested that the riders may have become more efficient at their own oxygen usage after adding dark chocolate to their diet. It may be that, for short-duration, moderate-intensity exercise, dark chocolate might help people exercise for longer.

> Have a break – have a Kitkat (what pro-riders do in the off-season)

Well as is with anything, it shouldn't come as a surprise that excessive intake of chocolate can of course, produce results counter beneficial to the entire of point of having chocolates for health purposes. Dunno just felt that had to give that disclaimer here, perhaps more for me than for anyone else...

A cyclist who was about to turn left when he received a very close pass from an impatient driver who was going straight on at the junction concerned has told road.ccthat he is unsure how much more it takes for a motorist to be prosecuted following such a manoeuvre after police told him that they had sent a warning letter after reviewing the footage.

Read more: > Near Miss of the Day 879: Driver makes very close pass on cyclist but only gets warning letter (includes swearing)

Isn't that how the new Taylor Swift song goes?

Ah I may be wrong about the lyrics, but I can perhaps assume that's what folks over at St Modwen Homes might be singing in their sleep, as the housing developer has been fined a whopping £32,000 for not putting back a cycle path properly in the village of Norton Fitzwarren, despite repeated requests by Somerset Council over two years.

The developers had been authorised to carry out work in the area in 2021 by the Council which involved digging 20m down and connecting a manhole to the storm drain.

St Modwen pleaded guilty to four offences committed under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 at Taunton Magistrates Court and was handed more than £32,000 in fines and costs.

The court heard that St Modwen Homes carried out street works at Great Western Way in Norton Fitzwarren, and failed to reinstate white lines on the carriageway and footpath, along with red tarmac on the cycle path. The company failed to respond to various notifications sent by Somerset Council urging it to complete the reinstatement properly, and so failing to fulfil its duty in the interests of safety.

 

 

 

 

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