Time to license the lycra: Why Britain needs to regulate bikes and e-scooters

Once upon a time, the humble bicycle was a symbol of childhood freedom or the weekend lycra warrior’s badge of honour. But now, two-wheeled transport has morphed into something far more complex and far more disruptive. With e-bikes and e-scooters zipping through city streets and across pavements at alarming speeds, it's time Britain asked a once unthinkable question: should cyclists and e-riders be licensed, taxed, and insured like the rest of us?

The answer, increasingly, must be yes.

The numbers alone are staggering. Over 7 million people in England ride bicycles each year. Nearly a million own e-scooters, many of which are used on public roads despite the ongoing legal grey area. And yet, unlike drivers, these road users operate with no identifying plates, no required insurance, and no formal training. This is not the mark of a civilised transport system. It’s a blind spot.

The roads have changed, and so too must the rules.

The case for reform - not the Farage version

The argument isn't one of punishing cyclists - I am a cyclist myself. It is about accountability and fairness. When a pedestrian is injured by an e-bike - and it’s happening with increasing frequency - what recourse do they have? When a cyclist jumps a red light and disappears into the urban blur, what justice is there? A light-touch licensing and insurance model would not only protect the public, it would elevate the cyclist to a legitimate, respected road user.

To that end, a phased policy is proposed:

• E-bikes and e-scooters would require registration via scannable QR codes, basic third-party insurance, and an online safety test. A modest annual levy of £50 would fund enforcement and infrastructure.

• Standard bicycles, in time, would follow. A symbolic £10 levy, voluntary at first, would expand to include proficiency testing and optional insurance, creating a pathway to a more formalised system.

  
  

This is not draconian. It's common sense. And the numbers support it. A recent estimate suggests such a scheme could bring in £96 million annually, with £54 million in net revenue after costs - money that could be reinvested in safer cycle lanes, road awareness campaigns, and modern infrastructure.

A cultural shift on two wheels

Opponents will shout that cyclists are being scapegoated. But this is not about vilification — it’s about integration. Cyclists should be part of the transport conversation, not hovering on its moral periphery. When motorists shoulder the entire burden of road tax, insurance, and regulation, while dodging swerving food delivery bikes and silent e-scooters, the imbalance becomes both visual and visceral.

Regulation would also help address a growing public resentment of aggressive riding, especially on pavements. By requiring identifiers - as simple as a QR code - and a traceable insurance policy, rogue riders can be held to account. More importantly, conscientious cyclists would finally gain the respect they’ve long demanded. A seat at the table, not a free ride on the pavement.

Let’s stop pretending this is radical

Other countries have already moved in this direction. In parts of Europe, e-bike insurance is mandatory. Even France, hardly a haven for overregulation, now requires insurance for certain classes of e-scooters. Britain, meanwhile, dithers - unsure whether to treat cyclists as children or champions of climate virtue.

We can do better. We can implement a system that’s modern, proportionate, and crucially - self-funding. And we can do it while keeping cycling accessible for all, with exemptions for children and subsidies for low-income riders.

The great irony is that this proposal would probably be welcomed by the majority of serious cyclists themselves. They're tired of being tarred with the same brush as the reckless Deliveroo rider or the pavement menace. They want respect, not free rein.

It’s time for cyclists and e-riders to join the ranks of responsible road users. Not as an act of punishment, but as a badge of maturity. We license dogs and televisions in this country. Surely we can license a 25mph electric scooter?