Scooters, Bikes, Mopeds - The Legislation Explained

Good afternoon Resident

I hope this e-mail reaches you well. I am writing to residents within the St Albans and Harpenden District to provide some further information and clarity on a previous message. You may have already received a ‘Good News Story' relating to an E-Scooter Operation which took place in St Albans on Thursday 27th November 2025. This message led to lots of replies from residents which we warmly welcome as feedback, both positive and constructive. Some of these messages included questions about the law surrounding e-scooters and e-bikes as the messaging came across as confusing. If you didn't receive that message, not to worry, I hope that the content of this message is beneficial to you. And as always, if you have any questions, feedback, or information relating to this topic which you would like us to respond to, please don't hesitate to ‘Reply’ to this message. 

When is an ‘E-Bike’ illegal? 

The main concern raised from my message was a misunderstanding about the term e-bike, for which I will provide clarity. I stated that e-bikes were illegal to ride on public roads. In the context of the message, this meant illegal e-bikes which have been modified and are considered a ‘mechanically propelled vehicle’ rather than a pedal cycle. When I used the term ‘e-bike’, I was referring to electric motorcycles or mopeds which are more commonly referred to as e-bikes. On reflection, this caused some confusion. 

An e-bike (or motorcycle) is identified when the following criteria is met: 

If your e-bike meets any of the above criteria, it will be treated as a motorcycle and therefore the rider will be subject to the same roadside checks as a car or a van. The rider must be 14 years or older to ride an e-bike on public roads. It cannot be ridden on pavements or cycle paths. The vehicle must have a registration number. The driver / rider needs to hold valid insurance and a driving licence. Officers who stop a person riding an e-bike will carry out checks to: (a) confirm it is an illegal e-bike, rather than a pedal cycle; and (b) request driving documentation to establish if the vehicle is legally being driven/ridden.

Are E-Scooters illegal?

All e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles. It is not possible to get insurance for privately-owned e-scooters meaning that it is automatically illegal to ride them in public spaces. There are currently no rental schemes in Hertfordshire which would allow for the legal use of any e-scooters in public spaces. 

E-scooters can be ridden in private places with the landowners' permission. So if you ride an e-scooter in a private car park, for example, you will need permission from the owner of that land for this behaviour to be legal. 

When is an ‘E-bike’ legal? 

From the message replies I received, many readers interpreted the phrase ‘e-bike’ as a bicycle or an Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC). 

EAPCs are, of course, legal to ride in the UK as long as they meet specific regulations. The following key points must be met: 

If the above criteria is met, the EAPC will not be treated as a motor vehicle and therefore the driver/rider does not need to register the vehicle, and they do not need to insure or tax the vehicle. 

If an EAPC does not comply with the regulations, it will be treated as a motor vehicle under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Road Traffic Act 1988.  

What can happen if the Police stop me whilst riding an e-scooter or illegal e-bike? 

Police have powers to seize the vehicle under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act and the driver/rider will be reported for any relevant offences. This can include: Using a Motor Vehicle Without Insurance, Failing to Stop, Driving Without Due Care and Attention, Using a Handheld Mobile Phone whilst driving. 

Under National Guidelines, seized e-scooters and illegal e-bikes will be taken to a local recovery agent and destroyed to prevent them from returning to our roads and endangering road safety. 

I hope this message has answered any questions which came through. I want to reassure residents that Police will be conducting regular enforcement checks in hotspot areas to identify riders of e-scooters or illegal e-bikes and take these off the road. If there remain any questions on this topic, please do let me know by replying. 

We also welcome feedback and information relating to these bikes; whether that is specific times, locations, or known persons who use these illegal bikes regularly. Police will act on information provided to us and information will be dealt with confidentially. 

Thank you for your patience and ongoing engagement! 

Kind Regards, 

Fiona