Angelica Solutions Calls For e-bike Safety Reg Upgrades –

The issue of separating electric bicycles from more powerful electric motorcycles, in terms of vehicle classification, is a serious one for all insurers, here are some thoughts from Angelica Solutions;

Angelica Solutions, data-led insurance consultancy recognised for its data-driven insights into risk and insurance, is calling for urgent updates to the UK Government’s STATS19 road casualty statistics framework. Under the current STATS19 system, eBikes are not distinguished from standard pedal cycles, and while helmet usage may be recorded, this data is not made publicly available.

eBike usage has grown rapidly, with online searches up 70% in the second quarter of the year compared to the first and Lime reporting an 85% increase in total journeys in 2024. This is only set to grow as new market entrants like Bolt plan to launch eBikes in London this August.

“There is a general misconception that a disregard for road safety and lack of road compliance is attributable to a small minority of users, our research would suggest the opposite. The danger lies in this risk profile scaling as eBikes become more mainstream. The absence of reliable data on eBike related collisions obscures the scale of the risk” confirms Sarah Vaughan, Founder and Director of Angelica Solutions.

There is clear evidence in our latest White Paper – Pedalling into the Unknown – The Hidden Human and Insurance Costs of the UK’s eBike Boom  which reveals a clear connection between helmet use and road compliance. Non-helmet wearers are less likely to obey traffic signals.

While 58% of all riders stop at red lights, this falls to 52% for non-helmet wearers and further falls to just 44% of non-helmet wearing eBikers. These trends are not only a road safety concern, but they could be rewriting the risks covered by motor and liability insurance products as we have a growing number of uninsured and untraceable road users creating risks not just for themselves but all those around them.

“Without granular, consistent data, underwriters can’t quantify risk accurately. This stifles the development of tailored insurance products and contributes to pricing uncertainty” continues Sarah.

The White paper identifies cyclist casualty rates have stagnated or worsened since 2022 while car casualties per mile continue to decline. Heavier, faster eBikes could be contributing to this shift, yet eBikes are exempt from registration requirements, making it nearly impossible to identify reckless riders or resolve liability disputes effectively.

We’re urging the Government to revisit the existing fields and categories within STATS19 to reflect the changing motoring landscape brought about by the rise of eBikes. Our practical recommendations would enable better tracking, clearer insights, and more effective road safety strategies.

1. Differentiate eBikes in data
   Record eBikes as a distinct category, separate from standard bikes and eScooters
2. Leverage the ‘Propulsion Code’
   The STATS19 form already includes a “Propulsion Code” field with an “Electric” option. This is almost never used for cycles but could be activated and standardised across all police forces
3. Track helmet usage
   Make helmet-wearing a recorded field for all cyclists involved in collisions and make this available in published data. It’s a simple addition that provides essential safety insights
4. Support data collection
   Equip collision investigators and insurers with clear protocols for capturing eBike-specific data, including speed at time of collision, lighting conditions, and road surface

“These are not radical changes. They simply make better use of the tools we already have. Without this data, we are regulating and insuring in the dark. With it, we can build safer roads, create fairer insurance products, and develop policies grounded in reality” concludes Sarah.

Related