United Kingdom · Policy & regulation · Issue #3 · 21/09 – 27/09
Liberal Democrats adopt policy targeting unsafe modified e-bikes and online sales
The Liberal Democrats have adopted a conference policy calling for tighter controls on non-compliant high-power e-mobility products and conversion kits, clearer legal definitions, better police training and new responsibilities for delivery platforms.
What the evidence says
Motion F38 was passed at the Liberal Democrats’ autumn 2026 conference. It calls on the UK Government to restrict or ban online sales and imports of high-power bikes, conversion kits and oversized electric vehicles that breach Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle limits, including products marketed for off-road use but routinely used on public roads.
The policy also proposes clearer legal definitions separating lawful active travel from high-speed unregistered vehicles, updated police training, confiscation and enforcement, and statutory duties for delivery platforms to verify that riders use road-legal vehicles and hold valid insurance. It asks platforms to assess whether pay and work-allocation systems encourage unsafe speeds or unlawful vehicles.
The motion supports safe, legal e-bike adoption and proposes a government-backed safety kitemark, more secure cycle infrastructure and stronger local partnerships. It is Liberal Democrat party policy and a request for government action; it is not enacted law or current UK Government policy.
Why it matters
The useful distinction
The proposal shifts attention upstream from individual riders to importers, online marketplaces and platform incentives. That could strengthen prevention and accountability while protecting lawful active travel, but it creates no new duties unless government and Parliament act.
This briefing is an independent summary of the evidence sources below. Context-only links are not used as factual authority. It does not establish that a product, organisation or listing is unsafe, unlawful or non-compliant beyond what the evidence reports.