E-bike riders might soon need insurance to ride legally. The European Commission has proposed updated laws which would mean e-bike users will need the same level of insurance cover as any other motor vehicle.
Earlier this month, the Commission issued a statement which included a paragraph clarifying that e-bikes – even road-legal pedelecs – were to be categorised as motor vehicles and need to be treated as such for insurance purposes. And it also appears that e-MTBs won’t be excluded from the updated legislation, even if they’re exclusively used off-road, as the directive will apply “irrespective of the terrain on which the vehicle is used”.
The proposal is being opposed by cycling organisations. The European Cyclists’ Federation has issued a statement, which points out that e-bikes are treated differently to motor vehicles under licensing and type-approval regulations, while raising concerns that more regulation will suppress e-bike use.