Thousands risk safety as 'unsuspecting' Britons opt for illegal electric bikes to support clean air goals

Britons have been unable to tell the difference between a legal e-bike and an illegal one, raising fears that thousands could be riding machines which break the law without realising.

A new YouGov survey found that 84 per cent of people are not confident they could identify whether an electric bike is road legal or has been modified.

The research showed widespread confusion about the rules, with just 16 per cent of surveyed Britons knowing that an e-bike motor must stop assisting once it reaches 15.5mph to remain legal on UK roads.

The E-Bike Positive trust mark, introduced by the Bicycle Association and the Association of Cycle Traders, aims to make it easier for buyers to spot reputable brands and retailers.

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A total of 33 manufacturers have signed up, representing more than 80 per cent of reputable e-bikes sold in Britain.

More than 600 retailers are also taking part, including Halfords, Evans Cycles and Decathlon, as well as hundreds of independent bike shops.

The scheme has been created in response to Government advice encouraging consumers to buy from reputable retailers, but offering little guidance on how to identify them.

Almost half of respondents said a recognised safety certification would make them more confident that an e-bike met legal and safety standards, while four in 10 said it would influence where they chose to shop.

Retailers joining the scheme must agree to sell only road-legal e-bikes and carry out repairs in line with manufacturers' guidance.

They must also provide approved batteries and chargers, supply safety information and refuse to repair dangerous or illegal e-bikes.

Shops will be checked through mystery shopper visits and documentation reviews, while manufacturers must pass independent audits to prove their bikes meet legal and safety standards.

Steve Garidis, executive director of the Bicycle Association, warned that illegal products were damaging the industry's reputation.

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He said: "Reputable brands spend years and considerable sums developing e-bikes which meet longstanding international standards and all the regulations for their legal sale and use on the road. They are a fantastic product with a wide variety of customers and benefits to health and the environment.

"But all this is undermined by illegal and unsafe products often sold through online marketplaces to unsuspecting consumers."

Similarly, Jonathan Harrison, Director of the Association of Cycle Traders, said customers "understandably" wanted reassurance when buying an e-bike.

Police have also warned about the growing number of illegal machines on UK roads, with Sergeant Stu Ford, from the City of London Police Cycle Team, stating that the machines they are seizing are not bicycles.

"Many have been illegally modified to reach speeds that put riders, pedestrians and other road users in serious danger," he shared.

Concerns have also been raised over fires linked to unsafe lithium batteries fitted to some illegal e-bikes, as fire services reported a rise in battery fires, some of which have caused deaths and serious injuries.

As a result, some insurers have withdrawn cover, while landlords, employers and transport operators have introduced blanket bans covering all e-bikes, including legal models.

Industry leaders are now urging ministers to close a loophole that currently allows non-road-legal e-bikes and conversion kits to be sold on the basis that they are intended only for use on private land.

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