What are the rules regarding e-bikes in London? Which electric bikes can you legally ride?
Many Brits are confused about whether e-bikes are legal to ride in cycle lanes at all
Electric bikes, or e-bikes, have to adhere to certain rules before they can hit the road
/ Maarten van den Heuvel, Pexelslectric transport methods such as e-scooters and e-bikes have become more and more popular in the capital, as they are relatively cheap and eco-friendly.
Transport for London’s e-scooter rental scheme alone has recorded nearly two million trips since it began in June 2021.
Meanwhile, London firefighters have attended more than 130 fires involving lithium-ion batteries in a little over a year, 44 of which were related to e-bikes. There have been a further 29 lithium battery fires this year, including 17 involving e-bikes.
In the meantime, many Brits are confused about whether e-bikes are legal to ride in cycle lanes at all.
Here is everything we know about the electric bike laws in the UK.
Are electric bikes legal in the UK?
Electric bikes are, indeed, legal for riders aged over 14 as long as the vehicle meets certain requirements.
E-bikes, also known as electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs), must have the following:
- Pedals that can be used to propel them,
- Show either the power output or the manufacturer of the motor on them,
- Display either the battery’s voltage or the maximum speed of the bike,
- Have an electric motor with a maximum power output of 250 watts,
- The motor should not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling over 15.5 mph.
Where can you ride e-bikes in the UK?
If your EAPC meets the requirements, then you are allowed to ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else that pedal bikes are allowed.
If your bike doesn’t meet the requirements, then it is classed as a motorcycle or a moped, and needs to be registered and taxed accordingly. Plus, you will need a driving licence and a crash helmet to legally ride it.
These rules follow tragic news that a 15-year-old boy in Salford has died as a result of an e-bike collision with an ambulance .
On Thursday, 15-year-old Sam Cookson was being followed by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) traffic officers in Salford until bollards blocked their vehicle’s path.
His e-bike then collided with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) vehicle.
The teen’s mother says he was “the most sweetest, kindest boy ever”.
Saul’s friend Mitchell Murden, 21, who said he had been due to meet him on the day he died, said “the majority” of young people in the area had e-bikes.