Urgent Action Needed to Address Risks of Illegal E-Bikes, Say MPs
Published 16 June 2025
Highlights
- A parliamentary report highlights the growing danger of illegally modified e-bikes, urging immediate government intervention.
- The report identifies a significant risk from battery fires linked to unregulated e-bike conversion kits.
- Delivery riders in the gig economy are often pressured to use illegal e-bikes to meet demanding targets.
- Online marketplaces are criticized for selling unsafe e-bike products without adequate oversight or accountability.
- Recommendations include creating a safety kitemark and reinstating worker status for gig economy riders.
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Rewritten Article
Headline: Urgent Action Needed to Address Risks of Illegal E-Bikes, Say MPs
The increasing prevalence of illegally modified e-bikes poses a significant public safety threat, according to a recent report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW). The report, titled "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes," calls for immediate government action to address the dangers associated with these vehicles, particularly among gig economy delivery riders.
Rising Concerns Over E-Bike Safety
The APPGCW report highlights the alarming rise in battery fires caused by unregulated e-bike conversion kits. Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East and co-chair of the APPGCW, described the situation as "a crisis hiding in plain sight." The report cites data from the London Fire Brigade, which responded to 179 incidents involving e-bikes or e-scooters in 2023, up from just eight in 2019.
Gig Economy Pressures
Delivery riders, often working under high-pressure conditions, are incentivized to use faster, illegal e-bikes to meet delivery targets. The report draws parallels between these working conditions and the "sweated labour" of the industrial revolution. It calls for the reinstatement of "worker" status for gig economy riders to ensure their rights and protections.
Online Marketplaces Under Scrutiny
The report criticizes online marketplaces for selling unsafe e-bike products with little oversight. It recommends that these platforms be held accountable for illegal listings and calls for the closure of the "offroad only" sales loophole. Additionally, the report suggests the introduction of a government-backed e-bike safety kitemark to help transport authorities and insurance companies distinguish between legal and illegal e-bikes.
Call for Comprehensive Reforms
The APPGCW urges the government and industry to take swift action to prevent unsafe products from entering the UK market. Fabian Hamilton emphasized the need for responsible cycling businesses to maintain high safety standards while addressing the risks posed by illegal e-bikes.
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Scenario Analysis
The call for urgent reforms in e-bike regulation could lead to significant changes in the gig economy and online retail sectors. If the government implements the report's recommendations, we may see stricter enforcement of e-bike safety standards and increased accountability for online marketplaces. This could also prompt delivery companies to ensure their riders use legal e-bikes, potentially improving safety for both riders and the public. However, the transition may face resistance from stakeholders benefiting from the current lack of regulation, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that considers the economic implications for gig economy workers.
The increasing prevalence of illegally modified e-bikes poses a significant public safety threat, according to a recent report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW). The report, titled "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes," calls for immediate government action to address the dangers associated with these vehicles, particularly among gig economy delivery riders.
Rising Concerns Over E-Bike Safety
The APPGCW report highlights the alarming rise in battery fires caused by unregulated e-bike conversion kits. Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East and co-chair of the APPGCW, described the situation as "a crisis hiding in plain sight." The report cites data from the London Fire Brigade, which responded to 179 incidents involving e-bikes or e-scooters in 2023, up from just eight in 2019.
Gig Economy Pressures
Delivery riders, often working under high-pressure conditions, are incentivized to use faster, illegal e-bikes to meet delivery targets. The report draws parallels between these working conditions and the "sweated labour" of the industrial revolution. It calls for the reinstatement of "worker" status for gig economy riders to ensure their rights and protections.
Online Marketplaces Under Scrutiny
The report criticizes online marketplaces for selling unsafe e-bike products with little oversight. It recommends that these platforms be held accountable for illegal listings and calls for the closure of the "offroad only" sales loophole. Additionally, the report suggests the introduction of a government-backed e-bike safety kitemark to help transport authorities and insurance companies distinguish between legal and illegal e-bikes.
Call for Comprehensive Reforms
The APPGCW urges the government and industry to take swift action to prevent unsafe products from entering the UK market. Fabian Hamilton emphasized the need for responsible cycling businesses to maintain high safety standards while addressing the risks posed by illegal e-bikes.
What this might mean
The call for urgent reforms in e-bike regulation could lead to significant changes in the gig economy and online retail sectors. If the government implements the report's recommendations, we may see stricter enforcement of e-bike safety standards and increased accountability for online marketplaces. This could also prompt delivery companies to ensure their riders use legal e-bikes, potentially improving safety for both riders and the public. However, the transition may face resistance from stakeholders benefiting from the current lack of regulation, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that considers the economic implications for gig economy workers.
