‘It’s time some kind of insurance was introduced for electric bikes’

Having read in the Press the article from Deputy Le Brun about increasing the speed of electric bikes and lowering the age I felt I had to write in.

Tonight on the way home at 10.30, coming over the Fontaine Hill, luckily at less than the recommended speed, I nearly ran into the back of a young lad on a large electric bike with no lights, waiting in the road for his friend to come out of his house, and he was dressed all in black. All I saw was a reflector on one of his pedals.

Then while coming along Le Ramee I met another bike with three young girls on it. It seems the laws have changed from when I was young, as you can now ride with as many as you can fit on your bike, with no lights, no footrests or helmets.

Also as a parent you can put your children unsecured in the front box on a cargo bike and if you have an accident they are the ones who will get hit first.

There are so many rules and regulations about proper car seats for children in cars, but not for bikes it seems.

The new bikes now have tyres as big as the ones on my car and fly along the road. Just imagine the damage to your car if you were to get hit by one of these, they have no insurance to claim from for your damage. I think it is time some kind of insurance was introduced for these bikes, not a normal pedal bike, but anything electric.

There is a law that says I have to put a seat belt on in my car. When I asked a policeman many years ago why, as it makes no difference to my driving if I have it on or not, he explained it was less messy for the emergency services if I crashed if I have my belt on.

So my point to this is. Why do motorcyclists have to wear a crash helmet but there is no law for push bikes or electric bikes to have to wear them, and if you see someone actually wearing one, is the strap done up?

Finally, I have also noticed how bright and dazzling the lights are on modern bikes with the introduction of LED lights. Many times while driving I have been blinded by these as they shine at you and not the ground.

I know this is going to open a can of worms with some, but I hope someone on the Police force or in our States reads this and takes up the mantle before someone gets seriously hurt.

Name and address supplied