# Burnham signals tougher e-bike rules after safety concerns

> The prime minister says the government is considering stricter controls on e-bike sales and conversion kits that let riders exceed legal speed and power limits.
- Title: Burnham signals tougher e-bike rules after safety concerns
- Summary: The prime minister says the government is considering stricter controls on e-bike sales and conversion kits that let riders exceed legal speed and power…
- Keywords: andy burnham, e-bikes, conversion kits, safety regulations, martin rhodes, uk government, The Independent
- Source: The Independent — https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ebikes-rules-conversion-kits-andy-burnham-b3083333.html
- Published: 2026-11-11T17:00:47+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: andy burnham, e-bikes, conversion kits, safety regulations, martin rhodes, uk government, politics, news
## Burnham backs tougher e-bike controls
During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Andy Burnham said the government is considering tougher regulations for the sale of non-compliant e-bikes and conversion kits across the UK.

> We are considering tougher regulations for the sale of non-compliant e-bikes and conversion kits across the UK.
## Legal e-bikes have strict limits
Under UK rules, e-bikes must comply with safety standards: motors must only assist while pedalling, disengage at fifteen point five miles per hour, and possess a maximum power limit of two hundred fifty watts.
## Conversion kits bypass legal limits
E-bike conversion kits sold online enable riders to fit motor and battery systems that exceed legal power or speed limits, creating safety concerns for pedestrians and vulnerable people.

> Online marketplaces are selling unsafe e-bikes and conversion kits that take pedal cycles beyond the legal limits, leaving pedestrians, families, vulnerable people worried for their safety going about their daily lives.
## Government launches e-bike parking consultation
Last week the government launched a new consultation on e-bike parking, promising to end the Wild West of current rules with clear rules for operators, riders and councils.
## Key takeaway

Andy Burnham announced the government is considering tougher regulations on e-bikes and conversion kits after concerns about illegally modified bikes travelling at dangerous speeds.