E-bike riders may need insurance under EU law tweak

Riding an electric bicycle on public roads without insurance could become illegal if an European Commission recommendation is approved.

The recommendation would affect anyone riding pedal-assist e-bikes, which are increasingly popular throughout Europe. Even if it is adopted, individual EU states can choose to opt out of the rule requiring e-bike riders to have insurance.

In a press release on its website the European Commission said: 'The evaluation demonstrated that new types of motor vehicles, such as electric bikes (e-bikes), segways, electric scooters already fall within the scope of the Directive as interpreted by the Court of Justice.

The Commission said that anyone using pedal-assisted cycles should already have at least third-party motor vehicle insurance to ride legally.

Almost all e-bikes sold in the EU are pedal-assisted, and limited to a 250W motor that only operated when the cyclists is pedalling and cuts out once the rider reaches a speed of 25kph.

Currently, these vehicles are regarded as bicycles in other areas of EU legislation. But if the Commission's recommended insurance requirement is adopted, it would place e-bikes in the same category as motor vehicles in member states that do not opt out.