Wiltshire Police explain what makes an e-bike illegal
Illegal e-bikes will be seized and destroyed from 1st August
Wiltshire Police has released a video explaining what makes an e-bike illegal.
The Force has also reminded owners of e-scooters and e-bikes that devices that break the law will be seized and destroyed from 1st August.
It's part of Operation Jetsom, which is targeting the illegal use of the vehicles across the county and take them off the streets to protect the public.
In the video, PC Phil Hackford, a Forensic Vehicle Examiner, has three types of e-bike with him, two of which are illegal.
The pair that are against the law, both feature 1000 watt motorised components and a twist-action throttle on the handlebars. The power coming from a motor is limited to 250 watts, with the throttle allowing the motor to continue propelling the bike even when the pedalling stops.
"The motorised effort to the wheels is separate to the pedals," PC Hackford said. "The law states that the two must be connected so that when the pedalling stops, the effort to the back wheel stops."
He added that this means the e-bike is now deemed a motorcycle, in the eyes of the law.
"In order to ride this on the road, it needs to be registered, taxed, moted. You must have a relevant licence to ride it. You must have a crash helmet, which is equivalent to a motorcycle crash helmet, insurance and everything else that goes with a motorcycle."
While the third, legal, e-bike PC Hackford shows does also have a motor, it's limited to the 250w maximum and has a device monitoring the number of pedal rotations, which is connected to the motor.
If a rider stops pedalling or begins to free wheel, the motor will shut off too.
It also doesn't have throttle assistance, the pedal and electrical propulsion working in tandem.
PC Hackford added: "The motor assistance must cut out once the pedal cycle reaches 15 1/2 mph, and you must be 14 years of age or over to ride one."