Cycling

A plain-English guide to e-bikes in the UK. Learn the law, how throttles work, battery care and real-world costs, plus tips on buying safely and protecting your bike from theft.

E-bike batteries are costly to make and quick to wear out, but Brighton studio Gomi is finding new life for them as power banks – a step towards greener cycling.

E-bike batteries are compact, valuable and increasingly targeted by thieves. Many insurers exclude battery-only theft — ETA treats the battery as integral to the bike, offering true cover.

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Britain has poured billions into subsidising electric cars and charging points, but electric bikes receive no support. With cycling projects returning £5–13 in benefits for every £1 spent, are we backing the wrong horse?

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Cycling through London behind a Peel P50 – the world’s smallest production car – raises a serious question: what kind of vehicle really belongs in a modern city? With traffic speeds at walking pace and Paris slashing SUV numbers while investing in cycling, perhaps the rational city car is a very small one.