e-Pack - A 5m long 250W x 2 articulated cargo bike van

TBF such things are found in cycle facilities in NL also. (They have some particular historic issues - petrol scooters - although they're addressing that some places).  And they even have special police kit for checking things there!

I agree that this doesn't make this a good state of affairs, nor that we should ignore it and "just be grateful".  But in the UK (and more so in the US, I'd imagine) maybe there are currently bigger issues?  Like actually getting half-decent cycle infra in the first place?  And addressing the cars and vans that are driving and parking there.  And buses, if a "cycle lane" (UK thinks bus lanes count and obviously buses need to get to the kerb, which means crossing the "bike lane" right?).  Oh, and temporary (ish...) road signage, materials for road works / utilities upgrades / people's house extensions, large waste bins / skips etc. being stored there?

(They've managed to sort out the road works aspect in NL, at least...)

I want to like these things but with the proposed UK law changes and increase in e-everything I wonder.

Still - even if the UK goes hog-wild on this stuff it's probably going to be better than out current motor-vehicle infested environment. Or will we long for the days when all drivers were licenced, insured and sober, and all motor vehicles had MOT, tax and number plates - and those not adhering to that had "the book thrown at them" (*hollow laughter*)?

Now you know who is sponsoring the government's push for 500W throttle controlled e-motor vehicles on cycling infrastructure. Get out of my way.

Sounds sensible, was touring the Edinburgh cycle paths yesterday and reminding myself of the general lack of width (Leith Walk seems to be about a metre in places and even that gets squeezed).

If I ruled the world I'd say "first build your infra! Only *after* that - wait and see! Let NL be the pioneer - they'll soon find the bugs / snags."

Another reminder that cycling provision is not just a "common" (and unstable / "fragile" - arguably still the case even in NL). It may be one with "potential" - if people predict it will increase in the UK we should *expect* commercial interests to look to exploit or "capture" it.

Overall I agree - I think we want the direction of travel to encourage things like this instead of conventional vans, but I don't think expanding the EAPC regulations is the way to do it.

That said, I suspect I would be very happy if all cycling infrastructure was built assuming something like this would be using it, and I would rather share good quality segregated infrastructure with these, than share the roads with full on HGVs. 

Yes ... the mirrors thing was me.

Don't forget though, you don't just need to look behind when reversing... every time to change direction or pull off from a kerb/junction you should look behind. [With trucks, you should check behind at every change of speed too]

Totally - and though I have far better visibility on my recumbent I still have mirrors as it just makes it much easier and quicker to observe.

There's an even longer trailer in the youtube video!
I actually quite like it, far rather that than a sprinter van. Going by the video, it's not exactly speedy, needs that 500W motor upgrade!

The pedals look to be either hydraulic linked or turning a generator. I think the EAPC regs stipulate that the bike must be able to be propelled by pedals alone. I do wonder if this would comply.

It would make a great luxury bike camper for cycle touring (as long as you weren't in a hurry!).