THAMES Valley Police has laid out a number of reminders and clarification of the law surrounding e-bikes and e-scooters ahead of Christmas.
Many people may be considering buying the items as gifts over the festive period, but specific laws apply to the items which must be taken into consideration.
Privately owned e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
This means they must meet the same requirements as cars or motorbikes if ridden in public, including having insurance, a valid driving licence, registration, and tax.
As it is currently not possible to get insurance for privately-owned e-scooters, using them on public roads, pavements, and parks is illegal.
Those caught doing so will have their e-scooters seized and disposed of.
As for e-bikes, riders must be aged 14 or older to use them, and a number of specific requirements must be met to be used legally.
The bike must have pedals to propel it, as well as an electric motor with a maximum continuous rated power output of 250 watts.
It must also be fitted with a cut-off feature which activates when the bike reaches 15.5mph, and display the manufacturer’s name, continuous rated power output, and either the maximum speed the motor can propel the bike or the battery’s voltage.
f it doesn’t meet these rules, it’s classed as a moped or motorcycle. That means it must be registered, taxed, insured, and you’ll need a driving licence and a helmet to ride it legally.
If your e-bike doesn’t meet these requirements it will be seized; if you can’t show that you and the e-bike meet the requirements it will be disposed of.
