E-cycles are classed as regular non-assisted cycles in Great Britain. However, if they supply electrical assistance when travelling at more than 25kph (15.5mph), have a motor which generates more than 250 Watts of power or motor assistance can be provided without the bike's pedals being in motion, they will be legally treated as a moped or motorcycle. These powered two-wheelers are subject to a different regulatory framework.

　　As long as your electric bike complies with the restriction listed above, that is right. You can ride on roads, cycle paths and other places where bicycles are allowed under GB law. You don’t need to register the bike as you would a motor vehicle, including mopeds and motorbikes, or have insurance or wear a helmet.

　　One more thing, the law states you must be 14 years of age or over to ride an e-bike on public roads. However, someone under 14 can ride an e-bike off road. Sixteen years is the minimum age to ride a moped in the UK, but this was reduced to 14 years for e-bikes, taking into account their lower levels of power.

　　If you want to use it on a public highway, you will need to register the e-bike with the DVLA, plus you’ll need a driving licence, insurance and to wear a helmet like you would on a motorbike or moped. More information on the regulations are explained in Is your e-bike legal? Electrically assisted pedal cycles regulations.

　　It’s not illegal to own an e-bike with a power output exceeding 250 Watts, or where the electrical assistance doesn’t cut off at 25kph. However, it is illegal to ride it as you would a standard bike (without it being registered and insured like a moped), on a public highway – this includes both roads and off-road rights of way such as bridleways and byways.

　　Unregistered and uninsured e-bikes that do not conform to regulations can only be ridden on private land where the public doesn’t have access, with the permission of the landowner.

　　The legal position is the same in Northern Ireland as the rest of the UK. In May, the Northern Ireland Assembly passed the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 which updated an outdated law. While the Assembly had not been sitting an opportunity to bring the law into line with other nations had been missed.

　　Some e-bikes don’t need to have their pedals in motion for the motor to be engaged. Some manufacturers produce bikes controlled by a throttle, which can be twisted to start, without pedalling, hence the name ‘twist-and-go’ machines.

　　New models of this kind are now classified under EU law under the L1e-A ‘powered cycles’ category which allows power up to 1,000 Watts. This means that they are not classed and regulated as conventional cycles, but the exact requirement for registering them in the UK remain unclear.

　　The legal position is further complicated because ‘twist-and-go’ e-bikes bought before the introduction of the new laws and limited to a 250 Watt motor remain effectively legal and can be bought second hand.

　　In practice most new e-bikes in the UK are built for the European market and so comply with European standard; look for the CE conformity mark to confirm the product has passed the relevant tests.

　　Looking at the shape and size of a bike won’t tell a purchaser all its specifications, but Construction and Use regulations define the legal safety criteria for bikes.

　　The most relevant of these for electric bikes is that they should be fitted with a sticker or plate showing the manufacturer’s name and the power output must default to the off setting so there is no power assistance without pedalling.