New research has revealed what Britons think about the growing presence of e-bikes on UK roads, amid growing concerns around safety, illegal models and battery compliance.
A survey of 1000 people, by bicycle insurance experts at Tiger.co.uk, has found that 61% think e-bikes are too dangerous.
The research also found that 42% didn’t realise that if an e-bike provides motor assistance above 15.5mph, it would be treated as a motor vehicle and require insurance, tax, registration and the appropriate licence.
In terms of incidents involving an e-bike, of those surveyed, 15% said they have been or know someone who has been in an accident.
Electric bikes offer many benefits, making cycling more accessible to a wider audience, and offering a greener, healthier option than commuting by car. But there are rising issues people need to be aware of and public opinion appears to be divided.
When asked whether e-bikes should be made illegal, the vote was split, with 44% saying they should be banned and 50% saying they should not.
With the UK having the second lowest rate of e-bike adoption across Europe, it’s clear more needs to be done to inform the public about the benefits and alert them to the dangers of illegal products and modifications.
Leisure, exercise and commuting are the top three reasons why people use e-bikes, and insurance experts are warning that as their popularity grows, understanding the rules and using e-bikes responsibly is key to helping all road users stay safe.
The experts are also calling for tougher regulations to be put in place to curb the increase in the number of illegal e-bikes and fires associated with non-compliant batteries.
Legally, E-bikes or Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) are limited to 250W of motor power, need pedals to propel the bike and a top speed of 15.5mph of motor assistance – if they exceed this, they are classed as a moped and must have appropriate paperwork.
However, these rules are not always clearly reflected in how e-bikes are marketed and sold online – with over 700 illegally ridden e-bikes and scooters seized in Scotland last year, up from just 49 the year before.
At present, non-compliant e-bikes continue to be openly sold online for use on private land, although concerns remain about how clearly these restrictions are understood by buyers.
Ian Wilson, bicycle insurance expert at Tiger.co.uk said: “E-bikes have the potential to be a useful and healthy form of transport, but we need tougher regulations and clearer guidance on how and when to use them.
“The majority of those surveyed thought they were too dangerous, causing them to question if they should be banned altogether.
“Illegal e-bikes are easily accessible to purchase online and these often exceed the legal power and speed limit requirements for e-bikes, meaning they aren’t compliant with UK road vehicle regulations. This not only puts other road users at greater risk but also increases the likelihood of dangerous battery fires.
“Those who own an e-bike have a responsibility to make sure they have bought it from a trusted, legal source, have not modified or tampered with the speed and have all the additional legal requirements in accordance with UK EAPC regulations.
“This also means being wary of the higher speed and cautious of how it’s ridden, purchasing protective equipment that is up to code, increasing speed gradually and using dedicated cycle paths where possible, taking extra care near pedestrian areas.”
