The All Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking (APPGCW) is launching an inquiry into the growing concerns around e-bike safety in the UK, particularly in the context of dangerous low-quality e-bike conversion kits and gig economy delivery services.
As the use of e-bikes continues to rise, they play an increasingly important role in mobility, supporting a shift toward cleaner, more efficient transport. While e-bike sales have surged across continental Europe, with Germany alone recording over 2.1 million e-bike sales in 2023, uptake in the UK remains comparatively modest, with just 146,000 e-bikes sold last year.
Despite the promise of e-bikes as a green, healthy transport alternative, a series of specific safety concerns now risk undermining this potential. In the UK, the proliferation of low-cost, poor-quality e-bikes and conversion kits, often purchased through unregulated online marketplaces, has been linked to a growing number of battery fires and other safety incidents. It also risks undermining the reputation of the category, exacerbated by a potential public misunderstanding of the difference between quality products available from reputable sources and illegally-modified bikes which operate in law as uninsured, unlicenced motorbikes.
These products are frequently used by gig economy delivery workers, who are under pressure to meet tight deadlines and often lack the financial means to invest in higher-quality, safety-certified equipment. In particular, our inquiry will explore the role of food delivery companies, whether a combination of economic necessity and a business model that pays-per-delivery may have created a market dynamic that puts both riders and the public at risk.
Recent developments, including a ban of all non folding e-bikes from Transport for London (TfL) services, risk undermining the UK’s active travel targets. The inquiry will aim to provide practical and implementable recommendations which allows the UK to reap the benefits of more healthy and inclusive active travel.
APPGCW is seeking evidence from:
– Individuals with lived experience (e.g. food delivery riders, victims of incidents)
– Industry stakeholders (insurers, manufacturers, retailers, food delivery platforms)
– Fire services and emergency responders
– Transport operators, regulators and local authorities
– Charities, campaigners and advocacy organisations
– Experts in transport, product safety, and urban design
The deadline for submitting evidence is the 15 May. Full details can be found here.
