E-bikes have transformed cycling opportunities in recent years. Cycling becomes more realistic and attractive for anyone who finds riding a push bike difficult. Cargo bikes carrying children or heavy/bulky loads are also far easier to use if they have a battery and motor, and this has enabled these cycling purposes to flourish.
In genuine e-bikes, battery assistance only kicks in when pedalling, and not above 25kph speed. Unfortunately unscrupulous providers are selling, as e-bikes, modified machines which in reality fall into the moped/motorbike category and so can only legally be used on roads and paths if taxed, with helmets, etc. .But, exploitative contracts by some delivery companies have resulted in significant use of such machines.
Now, new guidance from the Bicycle Association and the Motorcycle Industry Association enables the police and others to understand very clearly which category any given ‘bike’ falls into.
The guidance uses a series of flow charts to clarify whether an electrically-assisted pedal cycle is to be treated as a bicycle or a moped or motorbike.
The guide lists the three key requirements: propulsion by pedals, having an electric motor rated as less than or equal to 250W continuous power and motor assistance cutting out at a speed of more than 15.5 mph.
E-bikes are also allowed to have walk-assist propulsion not requiring pedalling only up to 3.7 mph, to help with hill starts
Any vehicle which doesn’t meet these requirements is treated as a motor vehicle and the rider requires a licence, insurance and to wear a motorcycle helmet.
While the new guidance is welcome, enforcement is currently limited both through police staffing constraints and the difficulty of stopping offending cyclists safely.
Companies such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats should be forced to ensure that their delivery riders are using compliant e-bikes and are being paid fair wages. In New York three delivery apps accused of “cheating workers” are being forced to repay $4.6 million in wages that it held back from deliveristas in violation of the city’s landmark minimum pay law.
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West, and a Spokes member, has asked the Scottish Government to give Police Scotland “the powers and resources they need to properly tackle this issue.” And, at Westminster, he is pushing the UK Government to go further in restricting the import and sale of illegal e-bikes, e-scooters, and modification kits. He told the Edinburgh Reporter …
“Quite frankly, it’s outrageous that shops are allowed to sell these devices knowing full well that, outside of private land, there is no legal place to use them in Edinburgh. We need action, and we need it now.”
Battery Safety
Secondly, concerns about fires caused by lithium batteries have led to worries about safety, and restrictions by some landlords, employers and others (e.g. Waverley Station) on e-bike storage.
In reality the problem lies with sub-standard batteries, or batteries which have been modified or damaged. E-bike batteries sold with CE and UKCA safety certification
include Battery Management Systems – equivalent to a household fuse box which prevents overheating, using safety cut offs.
E-Bike Positive Campaign
The abovementioned e-bike guidance also covers a new E-Bike Positive listing of brands that have been audited by the Bicycle Association as safety tested as well as fully UK road legal E-bikes.
The list is being expanded as auditing progresses, and will soon also include retailers in addition to bike brands. Retailers and mechanics who sign up as E-Bike Positive have committed to the following best practice:
- To sell only road legal e-bikes which are safety-tested and from trusted suppliers, and which come with full safety information and user instructions.
- To repair only road legal e-bikes.
- To repair or modify e-bikes only in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- To ensure that after any repair or modification, the e-bike can be charged and used safely. If this cannot be guaranteed, to refuse to do the work.
- To supply only safety-tested chargers and batteries from trusted suppliers.
- To supply only chargers, batteries and other components which are documented to be compatible with each other, and with the e-bike where they will be used.
- To supply chargers and/or batteries with full safety information and user instructions.
Spokes Info
- We have updated our E-bike info page and factsheet to include much of the information in this article
- See also page 11 of our 2026 Spokes Bulletin (#140) – print copies available
- Please repost our bluesky of this article.