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From the interview:
Note that there is some confusing terminology: "eBike" as a common (but wrong) term means a bicycle with assistance electric power which is limited to 25 km/h in speed. The proper term for this is "Pedelec". In difference to this, "S-Pedelec" means a light motorcycle which in Germany can go with up to 45 km/h, needs insurance, license plate, strict technical certification, helmet - and cannot, of course, use bicycle paths and cycle lanes.
~~> and cannot, of course, use bicycle paths and cycle lanes.~~
~~In town, but outside it's allowed unless is explicitly forbidden.~~
In Germany, that's not the case. What's frequently allowed outside villages (but need explicit permission!) are mofas which are gas-powered vehicles which have a max speed of 25 km/h. The Netherlands are more permissive here but they do have far, far better cycleways.
is "mofa" short for "Motor-Fahrrad"? i've seen the term a few times in the past few days but never before that. in that case they are what i would know as a "klass II moped", but here that category also includes pedelecs.
love the pseudo-homologated rules for eu motor vehicles.
Yes. But unlike in Sweden, where "klass II mopeds" don't need an insurance nor a drivig permit , in Germany they do in general ('mofa test certificate', "Mofa-Prüfbescheinigung", i.e. you need to take 6×90 minutes theory lessons and a 90 minute driving lesson and pass a theoretical test, not a practical test like for a usual driving licence/permit). Only normal pedelecs (those with 25 km/h limit, not s-pedelecs) are exempt and are treated as usual bikes and thus, don't need any insurance nor driving permit.
Like in Sweden, S-pedelecs in Germany are treated equal to Mopeds (klass I moped) and thus, require the AM drivers licence and an insurance.
yep.
Sorry, I've misunderstood.
Yet, there may be bike lanes, especially fast tracks, where S-pedelecs are explicitly allowed.
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https://wattmoves.de/s-pedelecs-endlich-auf-radwegen-hier-ist-es-erlaubt/213234/
AfaIk, Mofas don't need explicit permission on bike lanes out of town (§ 2 Abs. 4 StVO), but are explicitly prohibited sometimes *"keine Mofas".
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In town, the use of bike lanes with Mofas or pedelecs "E-Bikes" may be permitted if explicitly stated with an extra sign.
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Which is actually a really crap regulation as each city has to check all of their bicycle paths and allow S-Pedelecs. Which means that there are many cities which are simply not doing that.
Many/most urban city paths in Germany are already too crowded for S-Pedelecs which go at 45 km/h.
For example, you would need to be able to safely overtake a slower bicycle which on most German bike lanes is not safely possible. And of course, it is a different thing for Netherlands bike infrastructure - but you also have much denser bike traffic there.
The problem here is, that at least in Germany S-Pedelecs are not allowed on bicycle paths at all. Which makes city driving a nightmare and is also preventing S-Pedelecs on many other paths. Around here there are many paths through nature reserves and woodland, where it totally makes sense that motorcycles are banned, but since S-Pedelecs fall into that category, you are screwed.
A regulation like "feel free to drive there, but do not even think about going faster than 25km/h" could work.
The regulation is more ar less only intended for high speed tracks ("Radschnellwege") where it is sometimes suitable to allow 45 km/h fast bikes or bike streets ("Fahrradstraßen") where the s-pelelecs then would have to obey to the 30 km/h limit, not for each and every small narrow bike lane.