PACTS calls for illegal e-bikes to be stopped 'at source'

The advent of lithium-ion batteries, developed in the late 1990s, brought the prospect of a lightweight means of vehicle propulsion. Electric assist pedal cycles (EAPC) have benefited for over a decade. The clue to how their batteries work is in the name: they assist the rider when they are pedalling.

However, with increased ready access to purchase small motors and online videos explaining how to build trigger-controlled fully-electric-powered bikes, there has been an increase in illegal pedal-free use in the UK. While many modified vehicles appear to be pedal cycles they operate as mopeds; are faster than cycles, quieter than petrol fuelled vehicles, and are often ridden by untrained riders. These ingredients are a recipe for increased harm to the riders, who seldom wear helmets, and are danger to other road users, who do not expect them to be ridden as fast as they are, sometimes in cycle lanes or on pavements. Frustratingly, details of the use of an illegally electrified cycle in a collision is seldom recorded.

It is unsustainable for the police to be left to pick up those they can on the streets especially as there is a not an easy, ready means to identify the vehicles when in use. Engaging with delivery companies is an option, but in a gig-economy model that is not easy.

Instead, there are opportunities to tackle this issue at source, by increasing product regulations therefore influencing the types of lithium-ion batteries for sale. For example, those embedded in an EAPC with anti-tampering protection would gain approval through labelling. Others would not. As the identified cause of a number of fatal fires, product safety is important as they impact safety off road as well as on. The Government should focus there, as well as supporting police in their wider road safety activities.

Margaret Winchcomb is Deputy Executive Director at PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety)