E-bikes may need cover

Riders of electric bikes may need to have insurance from next year under proposals by the European Commission to revise the Motor Insurance Directive to bring it up to date.

The European Court of Justice ruled that e-bikes and Segways came under the directive, meaning anyone using one without third-party insurance could be breaking the law.

Countries could exempt these vehicles from accident compensation funds for victims.

The proposal is one of several put forward and also calls for minimum third-party cover for driverless cars and any vehicle for transport. The FIM mot­or­bike sports body challenged this as it includes racing bikes and cars and says cover should be for vehicles ‘in traffic’.