Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
GOVERNMENT IS LIAISING with insurance companies on motor insurance cover that will be required for electric bikes that exceed a speed of 25km/h.
The Government’s Road Traffic and Roads Bill, which will regulate the use of e-scooters and e-bikes, is currently before the Oireachtas.
A decision has been made to exempt vehicles that travel under 25km/h from tax, insurance, registration and licence requirements.
However, while e-scooters and pedal-assisted e-bikes that go no faster than 25km/h are treated the same as regular push bikes, high-powered e-bike that can reach speeds higher than 25km/h will fall under the same category as mopeds and motorbikes.
That means they will be subject to the same rules – such as the requirement to have insurance.
Junior Minister for Transport Hildegarde Naughten said in a recent parliamentary question to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy that higher-powered e-bikes will be required to be registered, taxed and insured.
“Users will require a driver’s licence and the relevant rules of the road for mopeds and motorbikes will apply.
“This change will ensure that e-cyclists who do not wish to be capped at 25 km/h and prefer to opt for a more powerful model will have the necessary legal structures in place to do so, and that risks to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians are managed by removing these faster vehicles from pedestrianised zones and cycle lanes,” she said.
“My officials are currently engaging with insurance industry representatives in relation to high-powered e-bikes,” she added.
Despite the minister stating that high-powered electric bikes will require insurance, the group that represents insurance companies in Ireland has told The Journal that it is currently “unaware” of any motor insurance products in Ireland that are designed for e-bikes.
No insurance products designed for e-bikes yet
“Insurance Ireland is unaware, at present, of any motor insurance products in Ireland designed for e-bikes, nor are we are aware of an appetite from the general public to purchase such a product,” it said.
While Insurance Ireland said it has liaised with Government on this issue, the group added that is “awaiting further clarification on the definition and scope of the use and range of e-bikes and e-scooters”.
When asked how much insurance for an e-bike or scooter might be in the future under the new legislation, Insurance Ireland said “pricing is a matter for individual companies and competition law prevents us from commenting on future pricing in the market”.
The provisions in the new legislation will also create a new category of vehicle to be recognised in the Road Traffic Act 1961, called powered personal transporters or PPTs, which will include e-scooters.
The Department of Transport said e-scooters will, in many respects, be treated in the same way as bicycles in relation to their use and the application of traffic legislation.
“It is not intended to subject e-scooters to tax, insurance, registration or operator licensing requirements.
“However, to minimise the potential for injury, design restrictions will apply. A maximum speed limit will apply and technical requirements, including for lighting and construction, will be introduced. E-scooters which exceed these criteria will remain illegal for public road use,” said a spokesperson.
Naughten said establishing this new category of vehicle will enable the Department of Transport to set out “appropriate technical and safety standards and rules for the safe use of e-scooters in regulations, without the same need for registration, licensing, insurance and taxation associated with mechanically propelled vehicles like cars, buses and trucks”.
One of the worrying trends in the last few years is the re-emergence of anti Semitism amongst far right and far left ideologues.
@Ned Gerblansky: hmmm I’d contest your point there. I think the left have given rise to anti-Zionism which is not the same as anti-semitism, they’ve some valid points when it comes to this giving the handling of issues in the Middle East.
It is in fact the far right, the likes of trump and the rest that set a precedent and target one or two groups and suddenly it’s a free for all when it comes to attacking certain groups, ethnicities etc for others to attack.
@Ned Gerblansky: there is a huge difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism and you appear to be eliding the difference. The latter position is common on the Left including Left Wing Jewish groups.
@The Guy is Here: I disagree. There is a rise of antisemitism and you can call it anti Zionism if you wish. I myself while pro Israeli reject Zionism but I can see that position used for intolerance. There is a simple fact in relation to antisemitism in the western world. Jews are living in fear & many of them are emigrating to Israel. Now we can have a whole argument about Israeli behaviour in relation to it’s neighbours but how does that correlate with British French and German Jews. Also while we agree in relation to trump & his light on the right you failed to mention Corbyns labour party on the left in the UK which not only covered up antisemitism it promotes. In my view antisemitism is always a sign trouble is coming & we are already well down that road.
@The Guy is Here: “I think the left have given rise to anti-Zionism”
The lefts opposition to Zionism has become a convenient cover for many plain old anti-semites. Anti-semitism has been on the rise on the left side of the spectrum for some time.
Hate crimes against Jews in New York for instance have shot up in recent years and they are almost always perpetrated by non whites. You cannot pin those on the far right.
Basically far right and far left are two sides of the same coin and both should be shunned.
@The Guy is Here: Not wanting Jews to have a homeland IS anti-semetic, it is in fact growing rapidly in far left circles… ask the Labour Party in the UK. Far left circle ideologies tell them that “the Jews” have influence in everything and too much “wealth” & “privilege”. Growing Communist communities in fact DO talk about Jews ideally “redistributing” their money. Much akin to what Hitler did in Germany by taking over Jewish businesses.
“Trump” isn’t “far right”… the KKK is far right. If you continue painting someone who isn’t “far right” or “anti-semetic” to be so… you in fact are causing people to not take future “far right” accusations seriously… and thus contributing to the hostile environment Jews increasingly have to live in.
@Will: the far right and far left are not the same. Your point are weak and reductionist and your knowledge is clearly redundant.
@Mjhint: your point died at pro Israel.
@The Guy is Here: The far left and the far right are extremists and both have a tendency towards violence in order to achieve their aims. They are most definitely two sides of the same coin.
You haven’t proposed an argument and went straight to personal attacks. I think I can dismiss you’re opinion based on that alone.
I bet you frequent many a far left conspiracy site.
@Mjhint:: I disagree, antisemitism is and always will be there, to pretend it is not will not solve anything. The way the so-called democracy of Israel treats its neighbors and especially the brutal treatment of the Palestinians does them no favours, carrying out crimes against humanity is not the answer for a people who have endured crimes against humanity and they of all people should know better. You cant claim the high moral ground while they do what they do. If the Palestinian question was resolved in a humane manner then that would reduce an lot of anti-Israel sentiment.
@The Guy is Here: are you suggesting we get rid of Israel?
@Da_Dell: I completely agree with you in relation to the Palestinian question & Israel’s behaviour in relation to this is disgraceful. It is the case though that Israel is only 50% of the problem. Far more Palestinians are killed by their own side & nothing about it. This is a complex matter & Israel should be held to account particularly by it’s ally across the Atlantic but the attitudes on the Arab side needs to be addressed & it’s slowly happening.
@Mjhint: I would also agree with what you there .. At some point there needs to be something like in the North .. where you had to say enough is enough, agree that there was and is issues on both sides, draw a line in the sand, shake hands and move forward with a fair negotiated 2 state solution.
@Mjhint: Yip, while neither’s sides wrongs should be dismissed, maybe accepted & move on. The wrongs of either side, will never be able to be righted, to the satisfaction of the other at this stage. I know it will not be easy but if there was some relaxation of the ‘blockade’ of Palestine and let them have some sort of a normal life, it would help reduce the number of extremists etc and maybe stop another generation in abject poverty etc who see Israel as the cause. We saw this in the North, the more freedoms that were won over time, lead then to less of a perceived need for those tactics that won those freedoms and more emphasis on a negotiated solution. Whether same results would have occurred of those were given instead of having to be won is debatable of course.
have your say