A police patrol on York Road in Tadcaster spotted a man riding an illegal E-Bike on Saturday evening.
He was stopped and spoken to by officers and following checks they discovered that the bike did not comply with current legislation so it was seized.
In the UK, E-Bikes are legally defined as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) and must meet specific requirements. If an E-Bike does not meet these requirements, it is classed as a motor vehicle under law.
The top speed it is allowed to travel at is 15.5mph or 25km/h.
Once the bike hits this speed, the motor must cut out. You can cycle faster using your own physical pedalling power but the electric motor cannot assist you beyond 15.5 mph.
There are many E-Bikes on the roads doing much more than that after being altered by people.
Back in December, YorkMix reported that officers in York seized two illegally-modified electric bikes and were shocked to discover one had a top speed of 103.8mph.
Selby Police said: “We recognise that this is a matter of concern for the general public, and we hope this action provides reassurance that we will take positive steps to address such issues and keep our community safe.
“If you own an E-Bike, make sure it is compliant with UK law to avoid enforcement action.”
