Are Negative E-Bike Headlines Really About E-Bikes?

You’ve probably seen news headlines linking e-bikes to high-speed incidents, pedestrian safety concerns, calls for stricter regulations, and even outright bans. As more people turn to e-bikes and other forms of two-wheeled e-mobility, e-bikes are increasingly coming under scrutiny, with questions about whether the negatives outweigh the positives. That’s unfortunate, because e-bikes are proven to be a sustainable alternative to driving and bring a wide range of benefits, from saving on fuel and maintenance costs to supporting healthier, more active lifestyles.

But…what if the “e-bike problem” isn’t really about e-bikes at all?

Contents

• The greater issue: “E-bike” is being used too broadly
• What’s the difference between eBike and eMoto?
• Why can road-legal e-bikes be hard to identify based on looks alone?
• Good news: Better tools and legislations help keep eBike laws clear
• How to protect your rights as an e-bike rider

The greater issue: “E-bike” is being used too broadly

These days, the term “e-bike” is being used far too broadly by the media, the general public, and even law enforcement and politicians. It can refer to everything from road-legal electric bicycles to mopeds, electric motorcycles, e-scooters, and other two-wheeled motor vehicles, as seen in this news broadcast. These vehicles may look similar, but they belong to different categories and can have very different designs, performance characteristics, and legal requirements.

However, when incidents involving these different types of vehicles are reported, they are often lumped together under the catch-all term “e-bike.” This can shape the perception that e-bikes themselves are becoming a greater safety issue, even when the vehicle involved may not actually meet the legal definition of an electric bicycle.

So, when you see an incident described as involving an “e-bike,” it’s always worth taking a closer look: Was the vehicle actually an e-bike?

What’s the difference between eBike and eMoto?

A low-speed electric bicycle (e-bike) is, at its simplest, a bicycle equipped with an electric motor rated at 750 watts or less, with a maximum motor-assisted speed that varies by region. The motor is primarily designed to assist the rider while pedaling, although depending on local regulations, some e-bikes may also be equipped with a throttle that allows the motor to propel the bicycle without pedaling. In contrast, e-motos are pure throttle-driven electric motorcycles with higher-output motors capable of greater speed and power.

Here’s a breakdown of how e-bikes differ from other two-wheeled motorized e-vehicles in the United States and Europe.

The important takeaway is that an e-bike is more than just two wheels and an electric motor. Differences in design, performance, and characteristics, along with the regulations that apply to them, set e-bikes apart from other types of e-mobility vehicles.

Legal e-bikes are generally considered consumer products rather than motor vehicles and are governed by the same rules as traditional bicycles, including where they can be ridden, such as on bicycle lanes. Mopeds, e-scooters, and electric motorcycles, on the other hand, fall into different vehicle categories. They’re designed for motorized propulsion and are subject to additional motor vehicle requirements, which may include specialized safety equipment, registration, licensing, insurance, and vehicle approval. They also generally cannot be ridden on bicycle lanes and are limited to regular public roads and off-road areas.

Why can road-legal e-bikes be hard to identify based on looks alone?

It’s not always easy to tell an e-bike from a two-wheeled motorized vehicle just by looking at it. Some manufacturers intentionally design high-powered motor vehicles to resemble e-bikes, allowing them to tap into the growing e-bike market while potentially avoiding stricter legal and safety requirements. They may add pedals to make these vehicles appear more bicycle-like, even though the pedals serve no practical purpose because the vehicle can be propelled entirely by its motor without the rider pedaling. 

To further broaden appeal, some manufacturers also target underage children through social media and marketing campaigns, presenting these motor vehicles as lifestyle products. This can give consumers and parents the false impression that they or their children can ride and use these vehicles like ordinary bicycles, when in fact they carry greater risks and may be subject to very different laws, restrictions, and safety requirements.

It also makes enforcement more challenging, particularly as new forms of e-mobility continue to evolve and conversion kits become increasingly available, making it easier for consumers to alter their vehicles’ appearance or “soup up” their performance. Training and tools for identifying these different vehicle types may not always keep pace with the technology. In some cases, electric bicycles have reportedly been seized or even destroyed after being mistaken for illegal e-motos.

Good news: Better tools and legislations help keep eBike laws clear

Fortunately, there are already some promising efforts underway to help authorities and consumers better distinguish between different types of e-mobility vehicles. For example, police in the EU and Australia are beginning to use mobile dynamometers in roadside checks to measure the top speed of suspected e-motos and e-scooters being operated in bicycle lanes. 

Meanwhile, California’s Senate Bill 1167 is one example of legislation aimed at bringing more clarity to the e-bike marketplace by addressing how high-speed electric vehicles, such as e-motos, are classified, labeled, advertised, and sold. Another one is New York’s Senate Bill S10700, which would prohibit the sale of e-motos and electric off-highway motorcycles that are not legal to ride on New York streets. It would also require online and physical sellers to display clear warning notices on non-street-legal vehicles and prohibit them from being marketed as e-bikes or e-scooters, helping to address potentially deceptive marketing practices.

These changes are helpful not only for protecting the rights of people riding legal e-bikes, but also for giving consumers a clearer picture of what they’re buying and what rules apply to their vehicle.

How to protect your rights as an e-bike rider

Knowing what you’re riding and what rules apply is one of the best ways to protect yourself as an e-bike consumer. Take the time to understand your e-bike’s classification, specifications, and local requirements. For example, road-legal e-bikes or electrically power assisted cycles (EPACs) in Europe are required to carry visible, durable markings that identify them as EPACs and provide key information such as their maximum continuous rated power and cut-off speed.

If you’re looking to purchase an e-bike, choose one from a reputable manufacturer that provides clear information about the vehicle and relevant certifications showing that it has been tested and meets major e-bike safety standards.

Learn more: A guide to major e-bike safety standards

The more informed we are, the easier it becomes to distinguish legal e-bikes from motorized vehicles and make sure e-bikes are judged on their own merits. By learning the facts, sharing what we know, and speaking up when different types of vehicles are incorrectly lumped together, we can help reduce misidentification and build a better understanding of what e-bikes really are: a fun, practical, and more sustainable way to get around. 

Explore the full range of road-legal Tern e-bikes and cargo e-bikes here.