Unsafe e-bike products linked to fires and gig economy exploitation have prompted calls for online marketplace regulation, scrappage schemes, and stronger protections for riders.
A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling & Walking (APPGCW) warns of a growing public safety and fire risk caused by the widespread use of unsafe, illegally modified e-bikes, referred to as “fake e-bikes”, purchased through online marketplaces and frequently used in the gig economy.
The cross-party report follows a detailed inquiry that took both written and oral evidence from fire services, police, industry bodies, gig economy workers, academics, and regulators. It finds that the UK’s lack of regulation and enforcement around e-bike safety is putting lives at risk, particularly among delivery riders operating in low-paid, high-pressure environments.
The report heard evidence that the current food delivery systems are comparable to the ‘sweated labour’ of England’s 1840s industrial revolution and that witnesses had “never seen people on a daily basis as badly exploited as food delivery riders”.
During the inquiry, the APPGCW was able to easily find e-bikes sold by major online retailers with 40mph speeds described as ‘for city commutes’, and a 2000W bike with a throttle pictured being used on city streets; both are illegal.
Another search on Amazon found an unsafe charger with an unfused clover leaf plug, and multiple charging cables supplied, both of which are considered a fire risk by experts.
Among the key issues identified in the report “Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes”:
- A surge in battery fires caused by unregulated e-bike conversion kits, low-cost batteries, and poor-quality imports.
- Exploitation of gig economy riders, who are incentivised to use faster, often illegal bikes to meet delivery targets.
- Online marketplaces selling unsafe products with little or no oversight, enforcement, or legal liability.
- Confusion for landlords, insurers, and transport operators, leading to blanket bans that affect users of legitimate e-bikes, including disabled people.
The report makes urgent recommendations, including:
- Calling on online retailers to immediately withdraw unsafe e-bike items from sale.
- Making online marketplaces legally accountable for unsafe listings.
- Working to create a government-backed e-bike safety kitemark in order to enable transport authorities and insurance companies to confidently lift e-bike bans.
- Reinstating ‘worker’ status for gig economy riders to guarantee rights and protections.
- Ending the road-legal loophole that allows illegal vehicles to be sold under the guise of off-road use.
- Enforcing compliance from delivery platforms. Require delivery companies to run real-time compliance checks on the bikes used by couriers.
- Equipping police with new, simpler powers to seize unsafe e-bikes.
- Introducing a scrappage scheme for dangerous bikes used by couriers, funded by delivery companies.
Fabian Hamilton MP, chair of the APPGCW, said: “This is a crisis hiding in plain sight. While responsible cycling businesses continue to meet high safety standards, the rise of illegal and unsafe e-bikes, often bought online and used in the gig economy, has created serious risks for riders, the public, and the future of active travel.
“We need urgent action from Government and industry to stop unsafe products entering the UK and to protect those being exploited while trying to earn a living.”
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