Pedal and Low-Powered Cycles (Amendment) Regulations, 2012

L.N. 365 of 2012

TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDINANCE

(CAP. 65)

AUTHORITY FOR TRANSPORT IN MALTA ACT

(CAP. 499)

Pedal and Low-Powered Cycles (Amendment) Regulations, 2012

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 54 of the Traffic

Regulation Ordinance and article 43 of the Authority for Transport in

Malta Act, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and

Communications has, after consultation with the Authority for

Transport in Malta, made the following regulations:-

(1) The title of these regulations is the Pedal and Low-

Powered Cycles (Amendment) Regulations, 2012, and these

regulations shall be read and construed as one with the Pedal and

Low-Powered Cycles Regulations, hereinafter referred to as "the

principal regulations".

(2) These regulations have been notified in accordance with

Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of

22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of

information in the field of technical standards and regulations and of

rules on Information Society services.

Regulation 1 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following

"1. The title of these regulations is the Low-Powered

Vehicles and Pedal Cycles Regulations.".

Regulation 2 of the principal regulations shall be amended

as follows

(a)

the definition "low-powered vehicles" shall be

substituted by the following

" "low-powered vehicles" means vehicles which do

not exceed the speed of 45km per hour;";

(b) the definition "moped" shall be substituted by the

following

" "moped" means a two or three-wheel vehicle

(category L1e) or three wheel vehicle (category L2e) with

a maximum design speed of not more than 45km/h, and

characterized by -

(i) in the case of the two-wheel type, an

engine whose

- cylinder capacity does not exceed

50cm 3 in the case of the internal

combustion type, or

- maximum continuous rated power

is no more than 4kW in the case of an

electric motor;

(ii) in the case of the three-wheel type, an

engine whose

- cylinder capacity does not exceed

50cm 3 if of the spark (positive) ignition

type, or

- maximum net power output does

not exceed 4kW in the case of other

internal combustion engines, or

- maximum continuous rated power

does not exceed 4kW in the case of an

electric motor;";

(c) in the definition "power assisted cycle" for the

words "power assisted cycle" there shall be substituted the

words "power assisted pedal cycle"; and for the words "power

assisted cycle" wherever they occur in the principal regulations

there shall be substituted the words "power assisted pedal

cycle";

(d) immediately after the definition "promenade" there

shall be added the following new definition

" "self-balancing vehicle" means a vehicle concept

that is based on an inherent unstable equilibrium and that

needs an auxiliary control system to maintain its balance,

and which includes powered one-wheel vehicles or

powered two-wheel, two-track vehicles;";

(e) the definition "public road" shall be deleted and for

the words "public road" or "public roads" wherever they occur

in the principal regulations there shall be substituted the word

"road" or "roads", respectively;

(f)

immediately after the definition "promenade" there

shall be added the following new definition

" "road" means any road, street, lane, square, or

other place of public thoroughfare, and it includes any

bridge over which, and any tunnel through which, a road

passes;"; and

(g) immediately after the definition "tunnel" there shall

be added the following new definition

" "very low-speed vehicle" means, for the purpose

of these regulations, a motorised foot scooter, a mobility

scooter or a motorised wheelchair that can travel not more

than 6km per hour.".

Regulation 3 of the principal regulations shall be

substituted by the following

" Motor fitted

3. (1) No pedal cycle may be fitted

to a pedal

with an internal combustion motor or with an

cycle.

auxiliary electric motor having an output of

more than 250 watts and producing a

travelling speed of more than 25 kilometres

per hour.

(2) Where a pedal cycle is fitted with a

motor satisfying the provisions of sub-

regulation (1), it shall also be fitted with -

(a)

a speedometer capable of

indicating the vehicle speed in

kilometres; and

(b) in the case of a cycle fitted

with an internal combustion motor, a

complete exhaust system emitting a

sound level of not more than 91dbA.

(3) Where a pedal cycle is fitted with a

motor in breach of the provisions of sub-

regulations (1) and (2), it shall neither be

registered by the Authority nor used on the

road.".

In regulation 4 of the principal regulations, the marginal

note thereto shall be substituted by the following

"Power assisted pedal cycle to be registered.".

In the proviso to sub-regulation (1) of regulation 11 of the Amends

principal regulations, for the words "along bypasses" there shall be regulation

11 of

the principal

substituted the words "along bypasses and on footpaths along regulations.

tunnels".

The words "LOW-POWERED VEHICLES" in the title of Amends the title

Part IV of the principal regulations shall be substituted by the words of

Part IV of the

principal

"SELF-BALANCING VEHICLES AND VERY LOW-SPEED regulations.

VEHICLES".

Regulation 27 of the principal regulations and the word Deletes

regulation 27 of

"Usage" immediately thereafter shall be deleted.

the principal

regulations.

Regulation 28 of the principal regulations shall be Substitutes

regulation 28 of

substituted by the following

the principal

regulations.

" Registration

(1) Self-balancing

vehicles

and usage.

shall be registered with the Authority in terms

of regulation 25.

(2) No self-balancing vehicle may be

used on the road unless it is fitted with -

(a)

a single front lamp showing

a white light, positioned centrally or

offside and visible from the front;

(b) a rear lamp showing a red

light, positioned centrally or offside and

visible from behind; and

(c)

a horn or bell designed to

give warning of approach.

(3) No person shall ride a self-

balancing vehicle on the road unless -

(a)

he has reached the age of

fourteen years;

(b) at dark, a white light is

clearly visible from a reasonable

distance in front of the vehicle and a red

light is clearly visible from a reasonable

distance behind the driver;

(c)

he is wearing a bicycle

helmet made of materials resistant to

blows, securely fitted and fastened to

the rider’s head.

(4) With the exception of use by

members of the police force in the exercise of

their duties, self-balancing vehicles may only

be used on the road where the road forms part

of a "Tour Route" designated by the

Authority by means of a notice in the Gazette,

which may be subject to additional specific

rules for operation.

(5) Very low-speed vehicles, other

than a motorised foot scooter, may be used on

a road where it is impracticable to travel on a

footpath.

(6) Self-balancing vehicles and very

low-speed vehicles shall be permitted to

travel on a footpath or promenade or within a

pedestrian zone at speeds of not more than 6

km per hour.

(7) When travelling along a road,

vehicles mentioned in sub-regulations (4) and

(5) shall keep as far as to the left side of the

road as possible except on the approach to an

intersection.".

€0.45