Chief Pleas will be asked to approve the deregulation of electric bikes at their upcoming meeting marking a potential change in Sark resident's transport options.
This time last year, the island's Road Traffic Committee sought a public consultation on the deregulation of all electric motor vehicles on Sark's roads, which was thrown out by Chief Pleas, because it could have led to a massive change in the island.
The committee subsequently received approval to conduct a consultation about electric bikes only, which took the form of a house-to-house questionnaire, sent to all addresses on Sark in July 2018.
Of the 650 forms sent out only 20% were returned. Of these, 91 indicated there should be a change in the Law, 42 indicated that it should stay as it is.
The Douzaine, which has assumed responsibility for the matter following the Road Traffic Committee's dissolution, considered the results of the consultation and "agreed that there was sufficient support take a report with proposition to Chief Pleas."
"If the Law were to be changed it is proposed that all of the restrictions currently applied to electric cycles contained within Section 40 (1) (b) would be retained (kerbside weight, pedal assisted only, motor size and maximum speed) while the requirements of Sections 19 to 26 would no longer apply (specifically a Doctors’ certificate, driving test and insurance)," wrote Douzaine Chairman Alan Blythe.
"There is no evidence that since the introduction of legislation to control the use of electric cycles on Sark there has been any significant accidents involving electric cycles, nor reports of any abuse of their use."
Sark's government will make their decision on 1 May.
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