Ride away on delivery day! On the other hand, the brothers Lyle and James Metcalfe – founders of London-based UK ebike brand Volt, said they “had never heard of” this margin for error. Additional advice for cycling (including electric bikes) includes wearing adequate safety gear (such as a helmet and high-vis clothing), fitting a bell, not using your mobile phone while riding, pulling over when necessary to avoid long traffic jams, and riding in single-file, to the left of the lane, and within a cycling lane where available. Marie has been writing about tech for 15 years. | 14 May 2020. Harmonisation with EU law has had an important effect on electric bikes with ‘twist and go’ throttles that can take the bike to full speed without any pedalling at all. For more information see our delivery page. E-bike law. However, campaigners calling for e-scooters to be allowed on UK roads say the current law banning their use is "outdated" and the devices provide an environmentally friendly alternative to cars. If you bought an ebike with a full-speed throttle before January 1 2016, don’t panic: those sold prior to this date are still considered as EAPC and do not require a registration or taxed. In this case, you will also need a driving licence, and you must wear a motorcycle helmet. However, there are a few stipulations users must follow: Provided your e-bike meets the above, it is held accountable to the same regulations as a traditional bicycle: What isn't legal is when an e-bike has a "twist-and-go" throttle that allows the bike to go more than walking pace (4mph) without any pedal assistance. Most electric bicycles sold in the UK have 250W (max continuous rated) motors and conform to both EU regulations and UK EAPC law. E-bikes sold in the UK should adhere to the list of stipulations above, but you might find those imported from other countries - typically China - have a twist-and-go throttle in the box that you can install yourself. Comes standard with a rack and fenders for all your adventuring. Electric bike speeds are capped at 15.5mph by law. Some electric bikes are currently sold in the UK with motors that can continuously deliver power of more than 250W however. The only major divergence between UK and EU law is that in the UK there’s a minimum age limit of 14 years, and older (pre-2016) ‘twist and go’ bikes with a full-speed throttle are considered to be legal even though they wouldn’t be if they were new. In the UK you must be over 14 years old to ride an electric bike but you don’t need a licence, nor do you need to register it or pay vehicle tax. The UK’s road network may yet dictate the future of e-scooters. Concealed ebike conversion kit The Vivax Assist hides a motor in the seat tube of the frame and applies power directly to … Electric bikes are becoming incredibly popular in the UK, and arguably more so in other parts of Europe. You can go faster than this, but only by pedalling. The ability to determine what percentage of an e-bike’s speed can be attributed solely to the battery however is almost impossible to ascertain if the cyclist is also pedalling, further adding to the legal grey area. However someone under 14 can ride an e-bike off-road. Throttle bikes are still banned with a speed of 28 miles per hour. You can ride an electric bike if you’re 14 or over, as long as it meets certain requirements. Naturally this has not gone down well, with the European Cyclists' Federation stating that such a change would "undermine the efforts and investments of several member states and the European Union to promote sustainable mobility". But, in Britain you must be at least 14 years old to ride an electrically powered bicycle on a public road. E-bikes that meet the current EAPC regulations, minus a few exceptions, are treated as normal bicycles. These other kind of bikes (also called speed pedelecs) cannot be ridden on cycle paths and must be approved by the DVLA. As such, e-scooters would need to meet the different requirements (e.g. With the ongoing pandemic we are seeing bicycle and electric bike sales rocket, but sales have been on the climb for some time now. However, none of these things are mandatory. The law surrounding electric bikes, and the enforcement of it, have seen a move in recent years and months towards a much clearer picture. If your ebike doesn’t meet these regulations – either because the motor is more powerful than 250W, or if it assists you when you’re riding more than 15.5 mph – it will need to be registered, insured and taxed as a motor vehicle. Learn more. These bikes do not comply with either the EU or UK law appertaining to EAPCs. lectric scooters became legal on roads in England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday 4 July 2020 if obtained through a share scheme. It would be legal to use these bikes off-road only. U.K. government is to review a 184-year-old law that prevents e-scooters being street-legal. Cycle insurance for electric bicycles Should the law in Britain change in line with Europe to accommodate the speed pedelec, the insurance industry will be quick to offer cover. The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles – EAPC – (Amendment) Regulations 2015 harmonised previous UK law (1983 Statutory Instrument No.1168), to bring it into line with EU law (regulation 168/2013 ). Front and rear lights come integrated into the bike's control system. One more thing, the law states you must be over 14 years of age to ride an e-bike on public roads. The cycles that meet these requirements (which affect two-wheeled bikes but also tandems and tricycles) can be ridden on any cycle paths and anywhere else that bikes are normally allowed. You can buy and ride these, but not on public roads. Sixteen years is the minimum age to ride a moped in the UK but this was reduced to 14 years for … The motor can’t help you beyond this speed. James Fitzgerald, founder of electric bike retailer Just eBike says that “according to EU and UK law there is a 10 per cent margin on the maximum speed allowed for the motors to assist the pedals. >>> Get the latest Cyber Monday cycling deals here <<<. These rules are only for rental e-scooters used as part of trials The rules for private e-scooters have not changed. Many ebikes contain a motor in the bottom bracket, which gives added power to assist with pedalling. If it does, you can ride your e-bike on the road without needing a vehicle licence, road tax, or bike insurance. These would be classed as motorbikes and would have to be registered with the DVLA, taxed and insured as with any other motor vehicle. So while it’s easy to de-restrict an ebike to get the motor assisting you with higher speeds, it is not very wise to do so, both for regulatory and safety reasons. The new 2020 Carrera Crossroad Electric has significantly lowered the entry point to the road e-bike club on its debut this week. These electric bikes are known as ‘electrically assisted pedal cycles’ (EAPCs). There is no legal lower age limit to ride an electric bicycle in most European countries. Cycle to Work. But that could mean that the old laws now need some attention. Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. Electric scooters, though popular, are still illegal for use on pubic land in the UK - but is the same true for electric bikes? Due to a change in the law, … Electric Bikes For Every Ride. Most bicycles sold as e-bikes (or EAPCs - electrically assisted pedal bikes) are perfectly legal for use in the UK and are treated as ordinary push bikes. © Copyright 2020 IDG Communications Ltd. All Rights Reserved. E-bike requirements Most bicycles sold as e-bikes (or EAPCs - electrically assisted pedal bikes) are perfectly legal for use in the UK and are treated as ordinary push bikes. It is against the law to use a privately owned e-scooter. Whether you’re looking to take the weight off tired legs or tackle tricky uphill stretches with ease, there’s no denying how incredibly practical electric bikes are. The UK legislation was harmonised with EU law EN15194 in April 2015, which means that it could change as Brexit takes effect. The European Commission has outed its controversial plan to amend the Motor Insurance Directive such that it will require all e-bike riders to have third-party liability insurance. 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