What Can I Ride?

Here at eeBIKES we're focussed purely on bikes that you can use on the road, safe in the knowledge that you fully comply with the law.

All of the bikes listed for sale on eeBIKES are fully compliant with the current UK regulations, and meet the standard definition of an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC), meaning that they can legally be used on the public highway by anyone over the age of 14.

In order to comply as an EAPC, the cycle must:

- have pedals which are capable of propelling the bike

- have a motor with a maximum continuous rated power of 250W or less 

- have a cut-off that prevents the electrical assistance from operating at speeds above 15.5mph.

EAPCs can be ridden just like any other bicycle, such as on cycle paths etc, without the need for a licence, registration or motor insurance etc, although the minimum age is 14.

 

Higher Powered eBikes

If an electrically assisted cycle does not meet all three of the above requirements of an EAPC, then in order to be ridden on the road, it would be classed as a moped or motorcycle, meaning that the rider would need a specific driving licence category and approved motorcycle crash helmet, and the vehicle would need to be road taxed, type approved, MOT'd and covered by motor insurance.

It's also worth noting that if you use something classed as a "moped" or "motorcycle", (even if it just looks like an electric bike) you are not allowed to ride on cycle paths.

Not all of these requirements apply if the vehicle is used solely on private land, however to meet the definition of private land, it has to be somewhere (like your own field) where the public does not have general access. As you can imagine, although "privately owned", under the Road Traffic Act, your local supermarket car park doesn't count as private land! 

More details around the legal aspects of electric bikes can be found on the UK Government website.