All about bicycles, electric-assisted bikes, technology and safety in the press

In our daily work as we deal with bicycle safety, technology and user manuals we come across lots of safety risks. The most frequent ones are published in articles of the leading German special-interest magazines TOUR – Europas Rennrad-Magazin Nr. 1, BIKE – Das Mountainbike Magazin Europas Nr. 1 and E-Bike – Das Pedelec-Magazin to make this information important for the sector accessible to a wider public.

For many years now the Eurobike Show Daily accompanying the annual international Eurobike Show has given us the opportunity to publish our perspective on major developments in the cycle industry in full-page articles.

We also speak regularly in independent lectures about all topics relating to bicycle technology and bicycle market. In addition, we are regularly cited by further special-interest magazines or trade journals as well as more and more by radio and television and in their media reports, which shows us that we are completely right with our information. The section NEWS informs you about the latest news from our specialist fields. The reports and publications of this section are listed chronologically or according to topics of interest.

SAZbike 06/2011
Reading time 1:00 minute

Insurers see high accident risk in e-bikes

So-called crash tests defame electric bicycles

An alarmist press release of the general association of Germany’s insurance industry (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft) that was picked up uncritically by many popular media (German newspaper "Bild": "More deaths and casualties by e-bikes”) throws an unfavourable light on e-bikes. What was felt to be really annoying in the bicycle industry was that the research carried out by the accident research department of the German insurers (UDV) responsible for the crash tests and the studies was allegedly inaccurate. Insiders of the industry blame the testers that they have handled the issue through the glasses of a car driver and that they are focussed solely on their “own interests".

Dirk Zedler, Zedler GmbH

I consider the tests that were carried out on behalf of the Insurers’ accident research after all as reasonable. A point where I do not agree, however, is the unbalanced presentation. To mix up pedelecs with a maximum speed of 25 kph/15mph and faster speed-pedelecs with a maximum speed of 45 kph/28 mph is not useful in my opinion. It has been my observation that riders of speed-pedelecs do not ride without helmet in general and do not necessarily behave like rowdies when riding pedelec. This shows clearly that the testers carried out the tests with their “car driver glasses” on.

There is no doubt that the issue “pedelecs and safety“ still holds enormous potential. Therefore, I would welcome it a lot to sensitise manufacturers, dealers and end-consumers for all facets of increased bicycle and pedelec safety. The alarmist presentation, however, will certainly have a negative effect on the issue electric mobility in an unnecessary way.

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