E-scooters, electric bicycles, speed pedelecs and the law

The government has acknowledged that emerging technologies such as e-scooters are 'ripping up the rule book' and will consult on the rules required to allow the new technology to operate safely.

Under plans announced by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, e-scooters will initially be allowed in a series of 'future transport zones': Portsmouth and Southampton; the West of England Combined Authority (WECA); Derby and Nottingham; and the West Midlands.

According to Shapps: “Our groundbreaking future of transport programme marks the biggest review of transport laws in a generation and will pave the way for exciting new transport technology to be tested, cementing the UK’s position as a world-leading innovator."

However, Britain has already fallen behind other countries where legislation governing use of e-scooters and speed-pedelecs is concerned. In other countries, e-scooters share or rental schemes are provided by Lime, Bird, and the Uber subsidiary Jump while here in Britain no such schemes cam operate. At the same time, the absence of legislation enabling legal use of e-scooters on public roads has not prevented their widespread use in city centres.

E-scooters and the law

Under current British law, e-scooter riders face a £300 fixed-penalty notice and six points on their driving licence for using them on the road or pavement.

Electric bicycles, speed pedelecs and the law

Electric bicycles, sometimes referred to as pedelecs, must not provide powered assistance beyond 15.5 mph (25 km/h) and maximum continuous rated power up to 250 W

If your cycle has pedals that propel it and an the electric motor of no more than 250 watts that cuts out once you’re travelling more than 15.5mph (25 km/h) then in the eyes of the law it’s an EAPC (electrically assisted pedal cycle) sometimes referred to as an e-bike, or pedelec

This means that you can ride it on the road or any cycle paths - anywhere a conventional bicycle can be used. It also means you won't find it any trouble to insure. For example, the ETA charges no extra for insuring an electric bicycle and includes £5m third party cover and protection against battery theft as standard. Oh, and if you break down they'll arrange for you and your electric bike to be taken to a repair shop, railway station or home (within a 25-mile radius).

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Who is allowed to ride an electric bike in the UK?

You don’t need a licence, vehicle tax or insurance to ride an electric bicycle but must be over 14 years old.

Speed Pedelecs

If your electric bicycle is equipped with a motor that's more powerful than 250W, or if it assists you when you’re riding more than 15.5 mph – in the eyes of the law it's a motorcycle and as such needs to be registered, insured and taxed. You'll also need the appropriate driving licence and helmet approved for motorbike use. These so-called speed pedelecs have been given their own type approval in Europe so that they can be ridden like bicycles subject to certain conditions but no such provision exists here in the UK.

These other kind of bikes (also called speed pedelecs) cannot be ridden on cycle paths and must be approved by the DVLA. So while it’s easy to de-restrict an e-bike to get the motor assisting you with higher speeds, it is not very wise to do so, both for regulatory and safety reasons.

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My electric bicycle has a throttle - is it legal?

Since January 1 2016, the only throttles legal on new bikes are those that provide starting assistance ie. assist the rider without pedalling up to a maximum speed of 3.7 mph. At that speed, the throttle cuts off. If the cyclist pedals at the same time, the throttle can still assist up to the 15.5mph limit.

Bikes sold before January 1 2016 may have a full-speed throttle (you don't need to pedal at all to reach the 15.5mph limit) but are considered legal due to having been sold before the law changed.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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