Clearer and more applicable penalties arrive (at least in theory) for those who make up electric bikes to go faster or in any case to be able to use them as if they were mopeds, so without effort. At the same time, a new category of these bikes was born: those dedicated to the transport of goods, with space for storing objects such as the riders’ cool bags and motor with double power than normal, given the greater weight to carry. These are two of the main innovations of the new Infrastructure decree, approved by the Council of Ministers in the session of 15 June.
The novelties are contained in four amendments to article 50 of the Highway Code, the one that governs bicycles (velocipedesin technical jargon)
The sanctions
On this front, we begin to punish those who make it possible to buy electric bikes on the market that violate the constraints established by the law: electric motor with power that does not exceed 0.25 kiloWatt and that is delivered in decreasing as the speed increases. , up to zero when you reach 25 km / h (when those who want to go faster can only start pedaling harder).
Thus the Dl establishes that «anyone who manufactures, produces, markets or sells pedal assisted bicycles that develop a speed higher than that provided for in paragraph 1 is subject to the administrative sanction of payment of a sum from € 1,084 to € 4,339. Anyone who makes changes to pedal assisted cycles capable of increasing the maximum continuous rated power of the electric auxiliary motor or the speed beyond the limits provided for in paragraph 1 is subject to the fine from € 845 to € 3,382 “.
Therefore, the responsibility of manufacturers, assemblers, wholesalers, retail traders and mechanics (professional or amateur) who make the engine more powerful than permitted and / or continue to operate over 25 km / h is brought into question. or it still works below this speed but also when the cyclist does not pedal at all (which article 50 allows – and only for a few years – only up to 6 km / h).