Deliveroo has initiated a new effort to identify and restrict the use of illegal high-speed electric bikes by its delivery riders across the United Kingdom. The company, which operates with over 100,000 riders servicing around 70,000 restaurants and grocery stores, aims to enhance safety and compliance with legal standards through advanced monitoring technologies.
The crackdown targets e-bikes that exceed the UK's legal limits for electric assistance. Under current regulations, e-bikes must have an electric motor no greater than 250 watts and must cease providing pedal assistance once reaching speeds of 15.5 mph. Bikes exceeding these specifications are classified as motorbikes, requiring registration, taxation, and insurance. However, conversion kits—often imported—are being used to modify standard pedal and electric bikes to reach speeds upwards of 30 mph, and in some cases as fast as 70 mph. These modified vehicles are not road legal and present safety concerns.
Deliveroo is employing new speed and GPS monitoring technology to track delivery times and speeds to detect when a rider’s reported travel time does not correspond with the limitations of the registered bike. According to Paul Bedford, Deliveroo’s policy and sustainability director, the approach focuses on identifying "sustained speeds" that exceed legal limits rather than isolated incidents that may be caused by factors such as downhill stretches or irregular GPS signals in dense urban environments. Riders found using non-compliant e-bikes will receive warnings, with persistent violations resulting in account suspension or removal from the platform.
This initiative has received backing from Transport for London and the London Fire Brigade. Authorities have expressed concern over the fire risk posed by the lithium-ion batteries in these modified bikes. London’s Metropolitan Police reported seizing more than 2,500 illegal e-bikes and scooters in the first seven months of the year.
The Bicycle Association, representing the UK cycle industry, supports Deliveroo’s stance, emphasizing that these conversion kits create dangerous, non-road-legal electric vehicles. The association notes that the illegal use of such modified bikes endangers riders and the public and damages the reputation of legitimate e-bike manufacturers who adhere to safety and regulatory standards.
The UK government has also emphasized the illegality of these modified e-bikes, reiterating that unless such vehicles are registered, taxed, and insured, they have no place on public roads. Recent legislative measures have empowered police to seize unsafe and unregistered vehicles, alongside efforts to crack down on the online sale of illegal conversion kits.
Deliveroo’s new monitoring and enforcement system is part of a broader attempt to improve rider safety, protect the integrity of the delivery ecosystem, and comply with road traffic laws across the UK.