steve_sordy
Wedding Crasher
Someone earlier in the thread said the 25kph limit was set because of an existing speed limit on cycleways in France. We have no such limit in the UK and neither would it make any sense....any bike can go faster so how would you enforce the limit. An e bike can go faster but not with motor assist. So I can see no logic in the 25kph limit. The limit should be set taking account of functionality. Personally 25kph is fine for my type of riding but I fully understand the need for a slightly higher limit for those using an e bike on tarmac.
The logic is that we are in the EU and they like to have one rule that fits all. It is also why the limit is expressed in kph. When those that make all the rules get together to agree what should be the limit, you can bet that all the interested parties were all arguing for minimum change for their country. The result is often not the logical or even the correct decision; it might just be the result of a majority vote, but it may be a compromise that everyone can live with. By "everyone" I mean the legislators, not you and me.
My recollection is that the limit was nothing to do with French cycleways, but the existing rules for insurance and licensing on power assisted two-wheelers in much (most?) of the Continent.