But where exactly can you ride an e-bike, and what happens if you want to give yours a little power boost?
I am the proud owner of a fancy new electric bicycle to scratch my itch for some greenlaning whilst getting a bit of exercise. I have heard about chipping e-bikes (unlocking the speed limiter}. My bike, if chipped or derestricted, would have a top assisted speed getting up to about 40mph, which is plenty for me for the trails.
So, my question is this: can I chip my bike and still be legal? Can I ride bridleways; and can I ride footpaths? If I do, what is the worst that can happen? I am willing to bend the law a bit, but I don’t want to get into real trouble.
Adam
Answer
Hi Adam, I can’t tell you how to bend the law, but then there is not much bending when it comes to e-bikes. There is a class of vehicle which is called an electrically assisted bicycle. If your bike is altered so it is no longer in the regulations, then you have either an illegal vehicle or a motorcycle.
If you chip your bike, it is no longer a bicycle, but a motorcycle and it needs to be taxed, have an MOT, and insured. As your bike will not have type approval as a motorcycle, you will not be able to register it without gathering a huge amount of engineering evidence and a thin chance of success.
Then you’ll have to fmd someone to insure it. Once registered, if you got that far, an MOT might not be a huge problem, but it does sound a lot of work if you want to stay legal to ride the same trails as you could on an old dirt bike.
Your biggest risk is getting involved in an accident. On your illegally modified bike, you would be treated as though riding an uninsured motorcycle and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau would, in the first instance, meet any claim brought by an injured person. Then they’d come after you and your house.
I have an e-bike myself, and while I find the engine braking kicking in at about an indicated 26kph (16mph), I live with it. My household insurance covers me for a bicycle accident and my e-bike is bog standard.
You can use bridleways on a legal and unchipped e-bike, but horses have right of way over all bicycles. You have no right to be anywhere other than private land on a chipped bike.
In short, you can take an e-bike that meets the regulations as to power output on byways, highways, and bridle paths but not footpaths. Those remain the realm of walkers, many of whom are more than willing to challenge an unwelcome cyclist on one of their footpaths. Sound familiar?
Andrew Dalton
Adventure Bike Rider – November / December 2023
