The rising risks of e-bikes for young riders: Is it time for the UK to update the rules?

Some families may not realise how easily young riders can get hurt on e‑bikes. They look like ordinary bicycles, but they behave very differently. Their extra speed, weight and power mean that when something goes wrong, the consequences can be severe.

Hospitals are treating more young people with significant injuries linked to electric bikes, including incidents in parks and shared spaces where heavy e‑bikes have struck or fallen onto children. Staff describe fractures and soft‑tissue injuries far more serious than they would expect from a standard cycling fall, simply because of the force involved.

Riding an e‑bike safely demands awareness and judgement that some young riders are still developing. Safe use relies on understanding:

• how stopping distances increase at higher speeds
• the force created in a collision
• the difficulty of controlling a heavier bike
• the risk posed to pedestrians and other road users

Many young riders haven’t been taught how to manage these risks. And when powerful e‑bikes are used without that awareness, the consequences can be life‑changing – not only for the rider, but for the people around them.

This growing safety gap is exactly why clearer education, better guidance for parents and stronger regulation of e‑bike use is urgently needed. The current rules are not catching up with the reality of the injuries we are seeing, and change is essential to prevent more avoidable harm.

In the UK, you must be 14 or over to ride a legal e‑bike. This age limit was introduced long before e‑bikes became as powerful, fast and widely used as they are today.

Modern e‑bikes demand far more awareness, judgement and physical control than a standard pedal cycle. A 14‑year‑old is suddenly managing levels of speed and weight that go well beyond a normal bicycle, without any formal training or guidance. The current minimum age no longer reflects the risks young riders face.

Recent reporting from UKROEd highlights a significant rise in compensation paid for injuries linked to this type of transport, underlining the growing risks faced by young riders.

If e‑bikes are to remain accessible to young people, the UK may need clearer rules, better education and stronger guidance for families. The current age limit no longer reflects the reality of the risks young riders face.

The difference comes down to whether the bike meets the legal definition of an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC). If it does, it’s treated as a bicycle. If it doesn’t, it’s treated as a motor vehicle.

An e‑bike is legal if it meets all of the following criteria:

• Pedal assistance only – the motor works only while the rider is pedalling
• 250W maximum motor power
• Cuts out at 15.5 mph, so you can pedal faster than 15.5 mph, but the motor must disengage
• Throttle limited to 6 km/h without pedalling

If a bike meets these rules, it is classed as an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EPAC).

Legal e‑bikes (EPACs) can be ridden on:

• roads
• cycle lanes
• shared‑use paths

They must not be ridden on pavements.

An e-bike is illegal if:

Motor power exceeds 250W

• Motor power exceeds 250W
• It can travel faster than 15.5 mph under power
• It has a throttle that propels the bike without pedalling
• It has been modified to exceed legal limits

Any bike that meets these conditions is treated as a motor vehicle in law.

Illegal e‑bikes fall outside the EPAC definition.. In law, they are classed as motor vehicles because they deliver power and speed beyond what is permitted for a bicycle. That means they require licensing, insurance, registration and vehicle tax, and anyone riding one without these is committing an offence.

The rules around e‑bikes have not kept pace with how they are now being used. Police forces across the UK, including Greater Manchester Police, are reporting a rise in their use in criminal activity, anti‑social behaviour and dangerous riding involving both legal and illegal e‑bikes, including behaviour that puts pedestrians and other road users at risk.

Illegal e‑bikes are widely available online, often sold without clear warnings about UK requirements, and many families do not realise that the e‑bike their child is riding may be unlawful.

Bikeability is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by trained instructors across England, mostly through schools. It follows three levels of training designed to help children aged 7-14 develop safe cycling skills, such as basic bike control through to riding confidently on real roads.

As e‑bike use grows, there is a clear need for a Bikeability‑style programme specifically for e‑bike riding – one that reflects their legal status and the extra speed, weight and braking demands of modern e‑bikes.

A structured e‑bike programme should cover:

• Safe braking and stopping distances
• Controlling a heavier, faster bike
• Identifying illegal e‑bikes
• Understanding road rules and pedestrian safety
• The consequences of causing injury
• Guidance for parents on safe supervision

Such training would give young riders structured support in handling the speed and weight of e‑bikes, understanding the extra responsibility and potential consequences, and helping to reduce the risk of serious injury. Without this training, young riders will continue to face risks that current guidance does not prepare them for.

Many parents purchase e‑bikes believing they are simply enhanced bicycles. In reality, some models are legally classified as motor vehicles.

Many parents may not realise that:

• An e‑bike may be illegal if it exceeds UK limits
• They could be held responsible if their child injures someone
• Insurance may not apply when an e‑bike is used illegally
• E‑bike collisions can cause serious harm

Parents should ensure they understand the legal status of any e‑bike they purchase and consider whether their child has the maturity and awareness to use it safely.

E‑bikes have an important place in modern transport, but their speed, weight and power mean young riders face risks that the current rules do not fully address. Injuries are rising, illegal e‑bikes are easy to access, and families are often unaware of the legal and safety implications. The UK’s existing approach is struggling to keep pace with how e‑bikes are actually being used.

From our work with injured cyclists and vulnerable road users, it is clear that the UK cannot rely on outdated guidance to protect young riders. The law needs to reflect modern e‑bike capability and behaviour, and families need clearer, more accessible information about what makes an e‑bike legal, responsible use, rider behaviour and the risks associated with illegal e‑bikes.

Better education and stronger regulation would prevent avoidable harm. With the right steps, young people can use e‑bikes safely and legally, and the UK can keep pace with how these bikes are now used.