LOW-POWERED VEHICLES AND PEDAL CYCLES REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 65.26

LOW-POWERED VEHICLES

AND PEDAL CYCLES REGULATIONS

16th March, 2004;

1st June, 2004

LEGAL NOTICE 129 of 2004, as amended by Legal Notices 408 of 2007,

504 of 2010, 365 and 426 of 2012,176 of 2015 and 137 of 2018.

The title of these regulations is the Low-Powered Vehicles

and Pedal Cycles Regulations.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

''the Authority'' means the Authority for Transport in Malta as

established by the Authority for Transport in Malta Act;

''bypass'' means a main road built to avoid a town or a village or

other congested area;

''footpath'' means, for the purpose of these regulations, a

hardsurfaced path for pedestrians alongside, and a little higher than

a road;

''go-ped'' means a motorised scooter with a small combustion

engine or electric motor, having a maximum speed of 32 km per

hour, small non-pneumatic tyres with an average dimension of

(1) Ebda ċikletta bil-mutur li tkun ġiet manifatturata bil-

għan li tiġi użata bħala ċikletta bil-pedali ma jista’ jitwaħħal magħha

mutur b’kombustjoni interna jew mutur li jaħdem bl-elettriku

b’forza ta’ aktar minn 250 watt u li jipproduċi veloċità ta’ sewqan

ta’ aktar minn 25 kilometru fis-siegħa.

(2) Meta ċikletta bil-pedali li tkun ġiet manifatturata bil-għan li

tiġi użata bħala ċikletta bil-pedali jitwaħħlilha mutur li jkun

jissodisfa d-dispożizzjonijiet tas-subregolament (1), għandu

jitwaħħlilha wkoll -

(a) speedometer li jkun jista’ juri l-veloċità tal-vettura

f’kilometri; u

(b) fir-rigward ta’ ċikletta li jitwaħħlilha mutur

b’kombustjoni interna, sistema ta’ exhaust kompleta li

l-livell ta’ ħoss li joħroġ minnha ma jkunx aktar minn

91dbA.

(3)

Meta ċikletta bil-pedali li tkun ġiet manifatturata bil-għan li

tiġi użata bħala ċikletta bil-pedali jitwaħħal magħha mutur bi ksur tad-

dispożizzjonijiet tas-subregolament (1), dik iċ-ċikletta bil-mutur la

għandha tiġi reġistrata mill-Awtorità u lanqas għandha tiġi użata fit-

triq.

(1) Ħadd ma għandu jsuq fi triq ċikletta bil-pedali li taħdem

ukoll bl-għajnuna ta’ mutur, inkluż pedelec, li l-mutur tal-elettriku

tagħha jipproduċi aktar minn 250 watts, jekk dik iċ-ċikletta ma tkunx

reġistrata mal-Awtorità.

(2) Ir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ ċikletta bil-pedali li taħdem ukoll bl-

għajnuna ta' mutur, kompriża pedelec, li l-mutur tal-elettriku tagħha

jipproduċi aktar minn 250 watts għandha ssir wara li jsir ħlas

amministrattiv ta’ ħdax-il euro u ħamsa u sittin ċenteżmu (€11.65)

pagabbli lill-Awtorità.

(3) Ċikletti bil-pedali li jaħdmu ukoll bl-għajnuna ta’ mutur,

inkluż pedelecs, li l-mutur tal-elettriku tagħhom ma jipproduċix aktar

minn 250 watts, m’ghandhomx jiġu reġistrati mal-Awtorità.

(4) Meta xi ħadd imur biex jirreġistra l-vettura għall-ewwel

darba hu għandu jipproduċi għand l-Awtorità d-dokumenti li ġejjin

(a) formola ta’ reġistrazzjoni mimlija kif suppost u mbullata

mid-Dipartiment tad-Dwana jekk ġiet impurtata minn

Stat li mhuwiex Stat Membru tal-Unjoni Ewropea,

(b) dokument tad-Dwana jekk ġiet impurtata minn Stat li

mhuwiex Stat Membru tal-Unjoni Ewropea,

(ċ) il-fattura u dokumenti oħra li juru l-prezz CIF,

(d) speċifikazzjonijiet tekniċi tal-vettura.

L-ebda ċikletta bil-pedali li taħdem ukoll bl-għajnuna ta’

mutur, kompriżi pedelecs, li l-mutur tal-elettriku tagħha jipproduċi

aktar minn 250 watts m’għandha tiġi użata fit-triq jekk ma tkunx

koperta b’assigurazzjoni għar-riskji ta’ terzi persuni f’konformità

mad-dispożizzjonijiet tal-Ordinanza dwar l-Assigurazzjoni ta’

Vetturi bil-Mutur għar-Riskji ta’ Terzi Persuni.

(1) L-ebda persuna m’għandha ssuq ċikletta bil-pedali li

taħdem ukoll bl-għajnuna ta’ mutur tal-elettriku li jipproduċi aktar

minn 250 watts, inkluż pedelec fi triq jekk dik il-persuna -

(a) ma tkunx għalqet is-sittax-il sena,

(b)

ma jkollhiex dokument ta’ identifikazzjoni legalment

validu fuqha, u

(ċ) jekk tkun se ssuq ċikletta bil-pedali li taħdem ukoll bl-

għajnuna ta’ mutur, kompriża pedelec, li l-mutur tagħha

jipproduċi aktar minn 250w, tissodisfa lill-Awtorità li taf

sew xi jgħid il-kodiċi tat-traffiku tat-triq permezz ta’ test

teoriku.

(2) Għandu jsir ħlas amministrattiv ta’ ħdax-il euro u ħamsa u

sittin ċenteżmu (11.65) lill-Awtorità għat-test teoriku.

Tagħmir

25cm x 15cm, with two or four wheels, without a saddle for the

driver, and a gross weight not exceeding 15 kg;

''kerbside weight'' means the weight of the vehicle without any

person on it and with no load on it other than the loose tools and

equipment with which it is normally equipped;

''light quadricycle'' means a motor vehicle with four wheels

whose unladen weight is not more than 350 kg, not including the

mass of the batteries in case of electric vehicles, whose maximum

design speed is not more than 45 km per hour, and -

(i)

whose engine cylinder capacity does not exceed 50

cm 3 for spark (positive) ignition engines, or

(ii) whose maximum net power output does not exceed 4

kW in the case of other internal combustion engines,

or

(iii) whose maximum continuous rated power does not

exceed 4 kW in the case of an electric motor;

''low-powered cycle'' means a vehicle, having a kerbside weight

not exceeding 350 kg, which is either propelled only by pedals in

the case of a bicycle or tricycle, or by a combination of pedals and

a motor in the case of a power assisted bicycle or tricycle, or by a

combustion engine of a piston displacement capacity 50 cm 3 or less,

and a maximum of two brake horsepower, or an electric motor with a

maximum net power output of 1.49Kw, which is capable of a

maximum speed of not more than 45 km per hour in the case of a

motorised scooter or cycle, including mopeds, go-peds and light

quadricycles;

''low-powered vehicles'' means vehicles which do not exceed the

speed of 45km per hour;

''mobility scooters'' and ''motorised wheelchairs'' are vehicles

used by persons with disabilities;

''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;

''motorised scooter'' means a go-ped, a motorised micro scooter

and a motorised skateboard;

''motorised micro scooter'' means a scooter, with a seat for the

rider, having either an internal combustion engine not exceeding 50

cm 3 or an electrical-powered motor and can reach speeds up to 25

km per hour;

''motorised foot scooter'' means a device with no more than two

25-centimetre or smaller diameter wheels that has handlebars, is

designed to either stand or sit on, and is powered by an engine or

motor capable of propelling the scooter, with a travelling speed of

not more than 6 km per hour;

''motorised skateboard'' means a small two-wheeled or four-

wheeled motorised vehicle without handles, having a gross weight

not exceeding 21 kg, powered by a single cylinder petrol engine

whose cylinder capacity does not exceed 50 cm 3 or by an electric

motor and can reach speeds up to 45 km per hour;

''pedal cycle'' means a two or three-wheeled vehicle that is

propelled solely by human power by means of pedals;

''pedelec'' means a pedal electric cycle whose electric motor is

activated as soon as the rider starts pedalling and deactivated as

soon as the rider stops pedalling;

''power assisted pedal cycle'' means a two or three-wheeled motor

assisted cycle, including pedelecs, having a kerbside weight of not

more than 40 kilogrammes in the case of a bicycle and not more than

60 kilogrammes in the case of a tricycle or tandem bicycle, and is

fitted with pedals capable of propelling it;

''promenade'' means a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk;

"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;

"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;

''t un ne l'' m ean s, f o r t he pu r po se of t h ese re gu lat i on s, an

underground passage forming part of a road;

" 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.

Part I

PEDAL CYCLES, POWER ASSISTED PEDAL CYCLES

AND PEDELECS

Registration

3. (1) No pedal cycle manufactured for the purpose of being

used as a pedal cycle may be fitted with an internal combustion

motor or with an 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 manufactured for the purpose of being

used as 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 manufactured for the purpose of being

used as a pedal cycle is fitted with a motor in breach of the provisions

of sub-regulation (1), it shall neither be registered by the Authority nor

used on the road.

4. (1) No person shall ride on a road any power assisted pedal

cycle, including a pedelec, which is fitted with an electric motor

having an output of more than 250 watts unless it is registered with the

Authority.

(2) The registration of power assisted pedal cycles, including

pedelecs, whose electric motor has an output of more than 250 watts

shall be made against the payment of an administrative fee of eleven

euro and sixty-five cents (€11.65) payable to the Authority.

(3) Power assisted pedal cycles, including pedelecs, whose

electric motor has an output of not more than 250 watts, shall not be

registered with the Authority.

(4) The following documents shall be produced to the

Authority at the time of first registration

(a) registration form duly filled and stamped by the Customs

Department if imported from a State which is not a

Member State of the European Union,

(b) customs documents if imported from a State which is not

a Member State of the European Union,

(c) invoice and other documents showing the CIF price,

(d) technical specifications of the vehicle.

4A. No power assisted pedal cycle, including pedelecs, whose

electric motor has an output of more than 250 watts may be used on

the road unless it is covered by a third-party risks insurance in

compliance with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Insurance

(Third-Party Risks) Ordinance.

5. (1) No person shall ride a power assisted pedal cycle,

including a pedelec, fitted with an electric motor having an output of

more than 250 watts on a road unless that person -

(a) has reached the age of sixteen years,

(b)

is in possession of a legally valid identification

document, and

(c)

where such person is to ride a power assisted pedal

cycle, including a pedelec, whose electric motor has an

output of more than 250 watts, has satisfied the Authority

that he or she has some knowledge of the Highway Code

through a theory test.

(2) The Authority shall charge an administrative fee of eleven

euro and sixty-five cents (11.65) for the provision of the said theory

test.

Equipment

6. No person shall ride, or cause or permit to be ridden, on a

road, a power assisted pedal cycle unless it is fitted with -

(a) a plate securely fixed in a conspicuous and accessible

position showing -

(i) the name of the manufacturer;

(ii) the nominal voltage in the case of an electric

motor;

(iii) the cubic capacity and horse power of the motor of

the internal combustion; and;

(iv) the continuous rated output in Kw of the electric

motor;

(b) an identification number stamped on the frame;

(c) an effective braking system;

(d) a battery in the case of an electrically assisted cycle;

(e) a switch that, when released by the rider, cuts the

power to the motor, or equivalent mechanism that

disconnects power to the motor unless sustained action

is maintained by the rider.

Every pedal cycle and every power assisted pedal cycle,

including a pedelec, shall be fitted with a functional bell or horn

capable of giving sufficient warning of its approach or position

Provided that racing bicycles shall be exempted from the

provisions of this regulation.

Any officer of the Authority or Police officer or

community officer may, for the purpose of ascertaining any of the

requirements specified in regulations 5 and 6, test and inspect a

power assisted pedal cycle on a road.

(1) Every pedal cycle and every power assisted pedal

cycle, including a pedelec, shall be 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;

(c) a rear reflector, coloured red, positioned centrally or

offside and visible from behind

Provided that racing bicycles shall be exempted from the

provisions of this sub-regulation unless used on the road at night.

(2) No person shall ride a pedal cycle, or a power assisted pedal

cycle, including a pedelec, at dark unless the cycle displays -

(a) a white light that is clearly visible from a reasonable

distance from the front of the cycle;

(b) a red light that is clearly visible from a reasonable

distance from the rear of the cycle;

(c) at least a red reflector which is clearly visible for at

least 50 metres from the rear of the cycle when light is

projected onto it by a vehicle’s headlight on low-beam.

(3) No person shall ride a pedal cycle, or a power assisted pedal

cycle, including a pedelec, at dark without wearing reflective strips

or a reflective vest

Provided that pedal cycles classified as toys shall be

exempted from the provisions of this regulation.

Usage

No person shall ride a power assisted pedal cycle,

including a pedelec, fitted with an electric motor having an output of

more than 250 watts on a road without wearing a bicycle helmet

made of material to resist blows, securely fitted and fastened on the

rider’s head.

(1) No person shall ride or permit to be ridden any pedal

cycle or a power assisted pedal cycle, including a pedelec, unless

clearly marked otherwise -

(a) along a promenade;

(b) in pedestrian subways;

(c) in road tunnels;

(d) on footpaths

Provided that pedal cycles, including pedelecs with a motor

output of 250w or less may be ridden, with prudence, on footpaths

along bypasses and on footpaths along tunnels, with a speed limit of

not more than 6 kilometres per hour and giving way to pedestrians.

In any case, small pedal cycles may be ridden on footpaths and

promenades by children aged under twelve years.

Provided further that pedal cycles may be ridden, with

prudence, on promenades where there are signs put up by the

Authority indicating that pedal cycles may be ridden on such

promenades, in which event the rider of the pedal cycle shall be

obliged to abide by the maximum speed limits which shall be

shown on the said signs

Provided further that, in certain sections of the promenades, as

indicated by signs which shall be put up by the Authority, a person

riding a pedal cycle may be obliged to de-mount or to give priority to

pedestrians, as the case may be

(2) When riding a pedal cycle or a power assisted pedal cycle,

including a pedelec on a road, a person shall keep to the nearside

left of the road as possible in the direction of traffic except on the

approach to an intersection or a roundabout or when overtaking other

traffic.

Any person who rides any pedal cycle or a power assisted

pedal cycle, including a pedelec, on a road shall observe and abide

by all traffic regulations.

(1) It is an offence for more than one person to ride, or be

carried on, a pedal cycle or a power assisted pedal cycle, including

a pedelec, unless the said vehicle is adapted to carry more than one

person.

(2) Any person carried on a pedal cycle or a power assisted

pedal cycle, including a pedelec, in contravention of subregulation

(1) shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Children under ten travelling on someone else’s pedal cycle

or a power assisted pedal cycle, including a pedelec, once the said

pedal cycle or a power assisted pedal cycle, including a pedelec is

adapted to do so, shall be seated in a safety seat and shall where

such pedal cycle or power assisted pedal cycle, including a pedelec, is

fitted with an electric motor having an output of more than 250 watts,

be obliged to wear a bicycle helmet.

It is an offence for a person on a pedal cycle or a power

assisted pedal cycle, including a pedelec, to hold on to any other

vehicle which is in motion or hold on to any person or thing on, in

or attached to any such vehicle.

(1) No person shall take part in a race on a road between

pedal cycles or power assisted pedal cycles, including pedelecs or

between any of such cycles unless the race is authorised.

(2) Requests to organize races between pedal cycles or between

power assisted pedal cycles or between pedelecs or between any of

such cycles on a road shall be made jointly to the Authority and to

the Commissioner of Police.

Part II

MOPEDS AND LIGHT QUADRICYCLES

Registration and Licensing

Mopeds and light quadricycles shall comply with the Two

or Three-Wheel Motor Vehicles (EC Type-Approval) Regulations,

and with the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Regulations.

(1) Mopeds and light quadricycles shall be registered and

licensed with the Authority.

(2) Mopeds and light quadricycles shall be covered by a

Certificate of Conformity which shall be produced at the time of

registration.

(3) No person shall ride or drive on a road a moped or a light

quadricycle which is not registered and licensed with the Authority.

(4) Such registration mentioned in subregulation (1) shall be

made against the payment of an eleven euro and sixty-five cents

(11.65) administration fee payable to the Authority.

(5) No licence fee shall be payable for mopeds and light

quadricycles.

(6)

(a) The licence for the vehicle shall be carried on the

vehicle at all times when the vehicle is in use, parked

or otherwise kept at any time in a public place.

(b) The licence shall be carried in a conspicuous position

on the near side of the handlebar in the case of a moped

and on the near side of the vehicle in the case of a light

quadricycle.

No person shall ride a moped or drive a light quadricycle

on a road unless he or she has reached the age of eighteen years and

is in possession of a valid driving licence (Category A1) issued in

c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e M o t o r Ve h i c l e s ( D r i v i n g L i c e n c e s )

Regulations.

(1) No person shall ride or drive, or cause or permit to be

ridden or driven, on a road, a moped or a light quadricycle unless it

is fitted with plates showing the vehicle’s identification numbers

assigned to it by the Authority.

(2) The said identification numbers shall be placed on the back

of the vehicle in the case of mopeds and on the front and back of

vehicle in the case of a light quadricycle.

No moped shall be ridden and no light quadricycle shall be

driven on a road unless the vehicle is covered by a third-party

insurance in compliance with the requirements of the Motor

Vehicle Insurance (Third-Party Risks) Ordinance.

Usage

No person shall ride a moped without wearing a

motorcycle helmet, securely fitted and fastened on the rider’s head.

Mopeds and light quadricycles shall not be used on

footpaths or promenades.

It is an offence for a person on a moped to hold on to any

other vehicle which is in motion or hold on to any person or thing

on, in or attached to any such vehicle.

(1) It is an offence for more than one person to ride, or be

carried on, a moped unless the said vehicle is adapted to carry more

than one person.

(2) If a person is carried on a moped in contravention of

subregulation (1), each of the persons driving or carried on the

moped is guilty of an offence.

Part III

MOTORISED SCOOTERS

Registration

(1) Motorised scooters shall be registered with the

Authority.

(2) Such registration mentioned in subregulation (1) shall be

made against the payment of an eleven euro and sixty-five cents

(11.65) administration fee payable to the Authority.

Usage

(1) No person shall ride, or permit to be ridden, a

motorized scooter on a road, on footpaths or on promenades.

(2) Motorised scooters may only be used off road and in

enclosed private areas.

(3) Any person who shall have been found guilty of a

contravention against subregulation (1) shall, on conviction, be

liable to a fine (multa) of not more than fifty-eight euro and twenty-

three cents (58.23), or the confiscation of the vehicle, or to both

such fine and confiscation.

Part IV

SELF-BALANCING VEHICLES

AND VERY LOW-SPEED VEHICLES

(Deleted by Legal Notice 365 of 2012).

(1) Self-balancing vehicles 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.

Part V

GENERAL PROVISIONS

(1) No person shall ride or drive or attempt to ride or drive

a low-powered vehicle while he or she is under the influence of

drink or medicinals to such an extent as to be incapable of having

proper control of the vehicle.

(2) A person who contravenes subregulation (1) shall be guilty

of an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction for such an

offence, to the punishments contemplated in article 15H of the

Traffic Regulation Ordinance.

No person shall ride a low-powered vehicle dangerously or

in a reckless manner on a road or in any other public place, or

without reasonable consideration to other persons using the road or

place.