It’s no longer just cars and buses you need to watch out for on city streets—now it’s electric bikes whizzing by at breakneck speeds.
Across parts of the UK, especially in cities like Birmingham, residents are growing increasingly uneasy as delivery riders zip through neighborhoods on illegally modified e-bikes, many capable of reaching speeds of over 70mph.
What was supposed to be a green, efficient, and eco-friendly mode of transport is quickly becoming a new urban hazard.
Police Sound Alarm on Speeding Delivery Riders
In Birmingham, police say the majority of delivery cyclists are ignoring the legal speed limit of 15.5mph and operating well outside the boundaries of the law.
The bikes are being illegally modified for more speed and power—essentially turning them into electric motorbikes.
West Midlands officers told ITV they’ve had to chase down these high-speed riders, and in one case, a policewoman was injured trying to stop a fleeing delivery driver.
“We do get them off the roads eventually,” she said.
“But what they’re doing is dangerous, and they absolutely shouldn’t be reaching those kinds of speeds.”
Riders Flee, But Many Walk Free
Despite arrests, several of the riders caught during operations are released shortly afterward.
Two riders recently stopped were also found to be in the UK illegally, yet were let go on bail with only penalty notices handed out.
The situation has raised questions about enforcement and whether the system is doing enough to prevent repeat offenses.
Residents Say Pavements Are No Longer Safe
Locals aren’t just annoyed—they’re frightened.
Residents, especially those who are elderly or visually impaired, say footpaths are becoming a minefield.
Louise Connop of the Thomas Pocklington Trust explained, “We rely on pavements for safety, but now they feel unsafe and unpredictable.”
Steve Keith, who is partially sighted, added: “One of these bikes zoomed past so fast it terrified me and my guide dog.
I didn’t hear it coming until it was already gone.”
Beyond Speeding: Fires and Exploitation Add to the Crisis
It’s not just the speed or the chaos on streets—there’s also a serious fire hazard.
Cycling journalist Laura Laker told ITV that some of these modified e-bikes have caught fire inside people’s homes.
“These aren’t legal machines. The police treat them like motorbikes because that’s essentially what they are.”
She also highlighted another disturbing trend: rider exploitation.
Many of these delivery workers are paid per drop, pushing them to make as many deliveries as fast as possible.
“They’re under a lot of pressure and being exploited by firms using legal loopholes to avoid giving them worker protections,” she said.
E-Bikes Become Tools for Criminal Activity
Beyond delivery apps, high-powered e-bikes—some costing up to £5,000—are now being used in a range of criminal activities.
Donna Jones, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said these bikes are often involved in crimes due to their speed and agility.
Crimestoppers, the anonymous tip-off charity, says it’s been flooded with reports from frightened citizens.
A farmer in Dumfries reported thousands of pounds in damage after his fields were torn up overnight, and an elderly woman in Edinburgh almost stepped into traffic trying to dodge a speeding e-bike on the pavement.
Even Whinhill Golf Club in Greenock, Renfrewshire, wasn’t spared—its fairways were wrecked by off-road riders in February.
Surge in Seizures as Police Crack Down
Law enforcement is ramping up action.
Nearly 300 illegally modified e-bikes and e-scooters were confiscated in the first nine months of 2024—triple the number seized in the two years prior.
Police say the increase in illegal modifications is becoming harder to ignore.
Under UK law, e-bikes are only road-legal if they:
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Have working pedals
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Don’t exceed 15.5mph
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Have motors with 250 watts of power or less
Anything above those limits, whether it’s for food delivery or joyrides, is considered illegal on public roads.