'We need to stop this confusing narrative' – Police force criticised after stating e-bikes require road tax, insurance and an MOT
A local team in Gloucestershire appeared to confuse e-bikes and e-motorbikes
The Gloucestershire Constabulary's Tewkesbury Neighbourhood Policing team has faced criticism for spreading misleading information about e-bikes. A now-deleted Facebook post stated that privately owned e-bikes require road tax, insurance, and a valid MOT. This confusion arose from mistaking e-bikes, which are pedal-assisted and capped at 15.5mph, for e-motorbikes, which are not.
The police team was seeking information on a report of dangerous riding in Brockworth, Gloucestershire. However, advocacy group Cycling UK's Duncan Dollimore highlighted the need for the police to clarify the differences between e-bikes and e-motorbikes. E-bikes, legally known as electrically assisted pedal cycles, are pedal-assisted, limited to 15.5mph, and have a continuous power output of no more than 250 watts.
They do not require tax, insurance, or an MOT. E-motorbikes, on the other hand, do require these. The Gloucestershire police spokesperson apologized for the oversight and clarified the rules for riding an electrically assisted pedal cycle on the Gov.UK website.
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