E-bikes that go over 25km an hour and don’t need to be pedalled will soon have to be taxed and insured in Ireland.
The change is among a number of new road traffic regulations signed into law by President Michael D Higgins yesterday [MON].
E-scooters will also be legalised as a new class of vehicle called ‘Personal Powered Transporters’ as long as they have a max speed of 25km/hr and weigh less than 25kg.
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They will remain illegal on public roads but can be driven on footways when the EU passes the change, which could take until Autumn.
Garda will also get new powers to tackle dangerous off-road driving like the anti-social use of scramblers, which they will be able to seize and dispose of.
It also will be an offence to drive vehicles dangerously on any terrain, allowing authorities to prosecute dangerous driving anywhere.
The Roads Traffic and Roads Act 2023 also includes provisions for enforceable variable speed limits on the M50 (where they are now advisory) and other roads as well a regulated framework for using CCTV cameras to gather data from the public road network.
An Bord Pleanala will get new powers to approve schemes that contravene development plans and the NTA to acquire land for public transport infrastructure to supprt schemes like BusConnects.
Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan, said: “It will make our roads safer for all road users and give legal certainty to those who are choosing to get around on new forms of mobility.
“Importantly, these provisions will help encourage more people to choose new convenient ways to travel that help them avoid time-wasting congestion and gridlock.
“In doing so, they will contribute to freeing up road space, which in turn means that we can allocate more space to provide improved, faster and more frequent public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.”
He says the changes will also allow the roll-out of BusConnects to advance as “new and essential powers are introduced to relevant authorities for the delivery of core bus corridors”.
“We know even over the past year that when public transport is put in place people are flocking to it. Public transport and walking and cycling numbers are only going one way.
“This new Act will be a springboard for even greater transformation of our streetscapes, our walking and cycling infrastructure and ultimately our environments.”
Minister of State with special responsibility for road safety, Jack Chambers added: “I welcome the many aspects of the Road Traffic and Roads Act which will improve safety on Irish roads.
“The misuse of scramblers, quad bikes and similar vehicles has been a recurrent issue in our society and these measures will allow us to regulate their use in spaces such as public parks, beaches and other public land.
“An Garda Síochána will now be allowed to seize these vehicles when they are used in a manner that puts members of the public at risk.
“Further increasing road safety will be the introduction variable speed limits on the M50. New powers will be given to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to manage traffic better and make it safer for its users.
“These measures are also supported by the completion of the motor insurance database to protect law abiding citizens from uninsured drivers.”
Key provisions of the Act:
- Clarification of e-bike legality, which are not allowed on footpaths or motorways
- E-bikes over 250W, do not cut out at 25km/hr and continue to go without pedalling with be classified as e-mopeds and will have to registered, taxed and insured
- E-moped drivers will need an AM category of licence
- Powered personal transporters regulations for e-scooters with continuous power output of up to 500W, a max weight of 25kg including battery and maximum speed of up to 25km/hr
- Garda get new powers to seize and dispose of scramblers and other vehicles used dangerously
- Dangerous driving, currently only an offence in a ‘public place’, will become an offence ‘all-terrain’
- Ministers will also get the power to ban certain types of vehicles, like scramblers or quads, from certain areas
- Enforceable variable speed limits on the M50 in the first instance
- Framework for CCTV cameras and other data-gathering devices on the public road network
- Support for the continued roll-out of BusConnects infrastructure, including new powers for An Bord Pleanala to approve schemes that contravene development plans and NTA to acquire land for public transport infrastructure
