Dear Resident,

E bikes and scooters have become increasingly popular over the last few years, but are you aware of the law on owning one?

Owning your own e-scooter

It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.

If you use a privately-owned e-scooter in public, you risk the vehicle being seized under S.165 Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance. 

If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car. 

Where you can use your own e-scooter

If you own an e-scooter, you can only use it in on private land, such as in a garden. But you must have the permission of the landowner to do so.

Owning and riding an electric bike: the rules

You can ride an electric bike if you’re 14 or over, as long as it is an ‘electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC).

You do not need a licence to ride an EAPC and it does not need to be registered, taxed or insured.

When your bike is an EAPC

An EAPC:

It can be propelled up to 15.5mph without pedalling but only if it’s been approved.

Its electric motor:

What your EAPC must show

Markings on the bike must show both:

It must also show either:

Where you can ride an EAPC

If your bike is an EAPC then you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed.

You cannot ride it on pavements.

Regards

Saddleworth and Lees Neighbourhood Policing Team