E-Bike Guidance

Access rights in Scotland apply to e-bikes if they are classified as e-bikes under EAPC regulations. The UK Government webpage states

‘Where you can ride: If a bike meets the EAPC requirements it’s classed as a normal pedal bike. This means you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed.’

You can ride an electric bike if you’re 14 or over, as long as it is an ‘electrically assisted pedal cycle’ (EAPC).

You do not need a licence to ride an EAPC and it does not need to be registered, taxed or insured.

An EAPC:

• must have pedals that can be used to propel it
• can have more than 2 wheels, for example a tricycle

It can be propelled up to 15.5mph without pedalling but only if it’s been approved.

Its electric motor:

• must have a ‘continuous rated power’ output of no more than 250 watts
• must not be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling at more than 15.5 miles per hour (mph)

Markings on the bike must show both:

• the continuous rated power output
• the bike manufacturer

It must also show either:

• the battery’s voltage
• the maximum speed the motor can propel the bike

If your bike is an EAPC then you can ride it on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal bikes are allowed.

You cannot ride it on pavements.

When e-bikes don’t meet the requirements defined, access rights do not apply as they will be classified as a motor vehicle.

If an e-bike has been modified, often referred to as ‘chipped’, and this has resulted in an increase in speed or an increase in the power output, access rights do not apply.

If a rider using a modified bike on a trail is stopped by police, they would be charged with riding a moped or motorbike in an area off-limits to motor vehicle traffic. Such vehicles can only be used on private land, or on public roads if licensed, type approved and insured. There can be confusion, particularly, when the mainstream media describe electric motorcycles as e-bikes.

One of the easiest ways to differentiate between an e-bike and an e-motorcycle is the use of a throttle on an e-motorcycle. Legal e-bikes can also have a throttle, but it can’t be used once the e-bike has reached 4mph.

Everyone accessing the outdoors must follow the key principles of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC).

As an e-bike is considered the same as a ‘normal’ bike and it is important that all e-bikers know and understand the principles and key points of SOAC as detailed in the ‘Do The Ride Thing.’ guidance.

This e-bike guidance doesn’t duplicate the rights and responsibilities of riders in different situations that ‘Do The Ride Thing’ details - both should be read and understood together.

One of the best (in our opinion) things about an e-bike, and what differentiates an e-bike from a normal bike, is the ease and speed that you can travel uphill.

When riding uphill, particularly on narrow trails or paths, and when in large groups it is important that riders get ready to slow down and stop if necessary when approaching, give a ring of a bell or a friendly greeting, and if other riders/path users step aside then a simple ‘thanks, enjoy your day’ will help everyone enjoy their day on the trails.

An obvious difference of an e-bike is that it relies on a battery to assist your pedalling. Before riding it is recommended that you do the following:

• Plan the length of your ride and calculate the risk of your battery running out of power.
• Consider your exit routes and what would happen if your battery did die (or you had a mechanical/accident)
• If you are planning more remote, or a longer distance ride, then consider bringing a battery extender.
• When riding in a group of e-bikers, consider that you may all have different battery life and this will also be affected by the weight of the rider, the type of e-bike and battery, and the mode (boost, trail, eco) that each rider chooses to use. It is also worth doing a check around the group of battery levels (has someone forgotten to charge the night before!) ahead of setting off rather than being left ‘a man down’ in a remote area.

E-bikes allow the opportunity for riders to quickly, and with less physical effort, access more remote areas and paths.

There is a concern that riders with less experience of the potentially rapidly changing weather conditions, the fragility of mountain paths, and the fact that any accident may become more serious in remote terrain will lead to increased call outs to mountain rescue, an unfair burden on the NHS, and real and sustained damage to our precious wild places.

These concerns are not being evidenced in mountain rescue statistics, or impact on the ground, however there are people who feel that bikes, in general, should not have access rights in these areas. To help protect our access rights it is important that we mountain bikers can demonstrate that we enjoy but also respect and care for our environment to ensure it is sustained for the future. We all need to be safe and properly prepared when biking in our wilder places.

A key consideration when going into more remote areas with an e-bike is the weight of carrying your bike. Many upland paths and remote areas will have sections where it is not possible to ride and you will need to walk and carry your bike over obstacles.

In advance of your ride you may wish to try to find a YouTube (or other) video that shows you the path/route and the type and level of riding that you will be undertaking.

Scotland's wild areas are open to responsible access, and it is important that we are safe and properly prepared when biking in our wilder places. We should also recognise that there may be an accumulative impact of riding on paths that aren’t designed for bikes. Take care not to always follow bike tracks particularly if they evade cross drains and other path water management features but learn the skills to handle your bike over these features. If in doubt, there is no harm or shame in walking sections of paths.

It is also vital that you stick to the path as upland paths are more likely to have fragile plants or fauna that you may disturb, or cause irreversible damage to, if you deviate from the path.

Full guidance on riding in remote areas including kit list can be found here.

E-bikes can (generally) help riders travel further and faster, helping riders cover more trails in a shorter space of time. The ability to do more laps of trails, increasing the number of wheels on trails, is likely to have a direct impact on the wear and tear of trails. This will lead to an increase in maintenance costs for trail centre managers and Trails Associations who help maintain trails with land managers and owners.

If you do ride a specific location, please consider donating or volunteering with your local trails association. It really does help if you can put something back to the trails you love to ride, to increase the sustainability and enjoyability of our trail network. The ‘Take Care of Your Trails’ campaign ran annually in Spring by IMBA Europe (but started in Scotland!) is a great opportunity to understand the different trails associations and the public dig sessions they run.

If you ride across Scotland, please consider donating to the Scottish Trail Fund and the trustees of the Scottish Cycling Foundation, who with the support of DMBinS, will help distribute this money to groups across Scotland who need it.

At trail centres, please always pay for parking. It really doesn't cost that much and the revenue collected from parking, does go towards the trail maintenance in that destination.

Do The Ride Thing – Riding Close to Home

Do The Ride Thing – Riding at Trail Centres

Do The Ride Thing – Into the Wild

The following films further help riders make responsible decisions when enjoying riding in and across the stunning landscapes across Scotland!