What Can I Ride?

Here at eeBIKES we're focussed on bikes that you can use on the road, safe in the knowledge that you fully comply with the law. Apart from our dedicated Non Road Legal section, all of the other 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 worth noting that if you use something classed as a "moped" or "motorcycle", even if it just looks like an electric bike, you'd not be allowed to ride on cycle paths.

Not all of these requirements apply if the vehicle is used solely on private land, however the definition of private land is where the public does not have general access. As you can imagine, your local supermarket car park does not count as private land for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act! 

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