With the summer holidays just around the corner, police are warning that the use of petrol-powered bicycles on a road is illegal and can result in injury to users.
The fitting of internal combustion motors to bicycles has become popular over the past year, however Senior Sergeant Ian Campion saysthey cannot be used on a road and there has already been a crash resulting in injury to one rider in 2014.
Typically, the petrol-powered motors come in three sizes, 50cc, 60cc and 70cc, and are supplied with a mounting kit and drive system for bicycles.
A bicycle fitted with the 50cc (or smaller) petrol-powered motor falls within a moped classification and those with larger engines fall within a motorcycle classification.
In both cases, the rider has to hold an appropriate drivers licence, wear an approved motorcycle helmet and the vehicle need to be registered and licenced.
In the case of motors greater than 50cc, a warrant of fitness is required.
In either case, a bicycle fitted with any of these motors is simply unable to meet the safety standards and legislative requirements for mopeds and motorcycles and for that reason cannot be used on a road and this is clearly specified by the suppliers of these engines.
Senior Sergeant Ian Campion. Photo/File
Mr Campion said these petrol-powered bicycles can reach speeds over 50km/h and can become difficult to control, and when coupled with their inherent braking inadequacies and low rated tyres, they are dangerous.
