E-bikes should be brought under Motor Vehicles Act, say officials

Transport Dept and RTOs are worried about the increasing use of e-bikes

Electric vehicles are taking over the streets; be it buses, cars or auto rickshaws. The BEST too is using electric buses taking its total to 125 buses and has setup charging stations. The railways are setting up charging stations for these e-vehicles outside railway stations and even battery swapping facilities. However, the Transport Department and RTOs are worried about the increasing use of e-bikes that are coming up across the city which is now seen at Bandra, Kurla and Bandra-Kurla Complex. In fact these e-bike services are expected to be extended to the other parts of city and suburbs in a week’s time.

The difference between other modes of electric vehicles and e-bikes is not in its system but in the Act governing them. At present, the e-bikes are considered as non-motorised transport which doesn’t fall under the Motor Vehicles Act. The officers from Regional Transport Offices said that in their meetings and discussions with other government bodies; they have discussed about these e-bikes moving around and plans are in place to extend its services to other parts of the city and suburbs as well.

The problem here is that people riding them zip through the traffic like a regular two wheeler. “Two wheeler accidents remain to be a big concern as bikers comprise of 41 percent of total deaths from road accidents. And these e-bikes don’t have the necessary protective gears and people ride around with ease even in traffic,” said a RTO officer. “We are working on amendments in Rules as far as non-motorised vehicles are concerned.”