The delivery firm says it will use new technology to flag riders travelling faster than a legal e-bike could manage, as part of a road safety campaign backed by London Fire Brigade and Transport for London.
Deliveroo has announced that riders using illegal e-bikes at excessive speeds face being removed from its platform. The company is introducing technology to flag riders travelling at speeds that a bicycle or legal e-bike could not reasonably sustain, and will contact those riders about their vehicle. The move is part of a new campaign called Ride Safe, in which Deliveroo is also calling on the Government to stop unsafe conversion kits being sold to the public.
How the ban will work
Where the system flags a rider, Deliveroo said it would get in touch with them about their vehicle. Access to the platform would then be withdrawn if the rider had knowingly registered an incorrect vehicle, or if the problem continued.
Paul Bedford, the company’s policy and sustainability director, said: “The safety of our riders and the public on the roads is a priority for us, and we take that responsibility incredibly seriously. That’s why we’re launching the Ride Safe campaign, in an effort to make our roads safer for everyone.”
The call for a ban on conversion kits
Such kits can be bought online and allow riders to fit motor and battery systems that exceed legal limits on power or speed. Mr Bedford said: “We’re calling on the Government to go one step further and stop this problem at its source, because anyone can buy these kits, fit them to any bike, and put themselves and others at risk.”
He added: “We think our industry has a responsibility to lead on e-bike safety, and we want the law to catch up.”
Under UK law, e-bikes must meet safety regulations. Their electric motors must work only when the pedals are turned and cut out at 15.5mph, and the motor must have a maximum power output of 250 watts. An electric bike that exceeds these limits is generally classed as a moped or motorcycle rather than an ordinary bicycle. Riders may then need vehicle approval, registration, tax, insurance, a driving licence and a compliant motorcycle helmet.
The Government has powers to strengthen product-safety rules under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025. However, the legislation does not itself impose a specific ban on e-bike conversion kits.
Fire risk
The campaign has been welcomed by Transport for London and London Fire Brigade. Figures obtained by the Press Association show the brigade recorded 171 e-bike fires last year. It also attended 35 fires involving e-scooters, a combined total of 206 incidents, in which two people died.
Fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters are often caused by the failure of batteries, conversion kits or chargers. Products bought from online marketplaces carry a greater risk of malfunctioning than those sold by established retailers, because they are not subject to the same level of regulation.
Richard Field, deputy assistant commissioner at London Fire Brigade, said: “We support this call from Deliveroo for a ban on the sale of unsafe conversion kits. Our firefighters are regularly attending very dangerous fires caused by converted push bikes.”
He said lithium batteries on push bikes had caused a significant number of fires in London when they were poorly installed or used incompatible components, such as chargers. “We would always recommend getting a professional or competent person to carry out a conversion and make sure to buy a battery from a reputable seller and that it is not second-hand,” he said.
Government figures recorded 217 e-bike fires reported to the Office for Product Safety and Standards in 2025, of which 82 involved converted e-bikes. These figures reflect reports received by the regulator, not necessarily every fire across the UK.
Political support and enforcement
Dame Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, said: “Dangerous and non-compliant e-bike conversion kits pose a serious fire risk, and I strongly support action to stop them being sold online and on our high streets.”
She added: “I have seen the devastating consequences of unsafe e-bike batteries and equipment first-hand in my own constituency, and it is not something I want any other family to go through.”
Police enforcement has also stepped up in London. The Metropolitan Police seized more than 2,500 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters in the first seven months of 2026, more than its total for the whole of 2025. Officers have also used roadside testing equipment to check suspected modified bikes.
Deliveroo has previously promoted compliant alternatives, including discounted e-bike rentals and subscriptions, and recycling schemes for non-compliant bikes and batteries.
