According to Freedom of Information numbers, police in the UK seized 937 e-bikes in the year ending August 11; this is in contrast to the 511 that were reported in the year prior.
An electronic display on a bike that was recently confiscated in London said that the bike had traveled over 6,000 miles and could achieve speeds of up to 70 mph. Police are finding that more and more bikes have been modified to reach significantly greater speeds.
E-bike motors are required by UK law to shut off when they reach a speed of 15.5 mph.
Officers frequently come across e-bikes that have the ability to run without the need to crank the pedals, essentially turning them into electric motorbikes or mopeds that need to be registered and taxed.
Online retailers are offering conversion kits for as little as £3,000.
The City of London Police’s Acting Sergeant Chris Hook stated that the weight and speed of e-bikes that have been unlawfully modified “massively” increase the risk for pedestrians who are engaged in collisions.
“The heaviest one I’ve seen was over 50 kg,” he stated. That bike was capable of exceeding 60 mph.
“If that strikes someone, it could result in fatalities or severe injuries, God forbid.
