New South Wales RTA, conducting a review of power assistance on bicycles, continues to dismiss engine-assisted pedal cycles.

A meeting of an invited industry group, the Power-assisted Pedal Cycle Focus Group, was held on Monday 10 August 2009.

Fortunately, Tony Riccio, managing director of Rock Solid Engines in South Australia attended the meeting to challenge the lop-sided discussion favouring low-powered electric-assisted bicycles at the expense of moderately powered electric-assisted bicycles and engine-assisted bicycles.

Tony reports that no attempt was made by the RTA to canvas the merits of more powerful assisted bicycles, including engine-assisted pedal cycles, at the Focus Group.

HybriPed prepared a detailed submission demonstrating that the direction that regulation was taking will not work in Hobart. None of that evidence was brought to the Focus Group.

As a consequence, cities such as Hobart, with its long distances and many hills are destined to remain difficult no-go zones for bicycles.