E-bikes - Knowing the Law before you buy for Christmas

E-bikes - Knowing the Law before you buy for Christmas

Soon our thoughts will be turning to Christmas and those all important stocking fillers

Although e-scooters are available to buy, they are currently illegal to use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas unless part of a legal e-scooter loan scheme. As there are no legal schemes in place in Hereford, Worcester or Shropshire, e-scooters can only be ridden on private land with the permission of the land owner.

E-scooters are currently classed as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVS) by the Government and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles in terms of requiring insurance, tax, MOT, driving license and registration.

There is no mechanism in place at the moment to obtain any of these for e-scooters so as this requirement cannot be met, their use in public areas is illegal. Anyone found using them in public areas risks having the e-scooter seized by the police.