The rapid growth of on‑demand food delivery has driven a substantial rise in the use of e‑bikes—and, increasingly, illegal, non‑compliant vehicles—within UK towns and cities. Despite heightened public, political and media attention, there is currently no robust evidence describing the scale of illegal e‑bike use, how delivery riders interact with the road network, or the extent to which gig‑economy business models shape rider behaviour. 

This project, funded by Active Travel England and delivered by the Connected Places Catapult and TRL, will generate a comprehensive evidence base on these issues. The research will combine stakeholder engagement with delivery platforms, police forces and local authorities; mixed‑method rider engagement; on‑street observational studies across multiple cities; and exploratory analysis of available collision, enforcement and platform datasets. Together, these activities will provide new insights into the prevalence of illegal e‑bikes, patterns of non‑compliant or unsafe rider behaviour, and regional differences in enforcement and local responses.

This presentation will be the first time the findings from this work are shared in the public domain. 

The presentation will directly contribute to the themes of the conference by offering an evidence‑based understanding of illegal and antisocial use of e-bikes, enforcement practices, and how gig‑economy conditions influence rider safety and compliance. We will provide real-world examples from selected cities in the UK and outline opportunities to address issues with safety and anti-social behaviour. By addressing a significant current evidence gap, this project aims to support proportionate policy making, strengthen community and enforcement practice, and improve safety while preserving the benefits of legal micromobility.

Dr George Beard, Head of New Mobility, TRL

Dr George Beard is Head of New Mobility at TRL, with over 12 years’ experience delivering social, behavioural and technical research across the transport sector. His expertise spans active travel and micromobility safety, inclusive and accessible mobility, electric vehicles, and the evaluation of emerging transport technologies and services.

George works with UK and international clients to deliver evidence-led policy and regulation, real-world trials and evaluations, with a focus on improving safety, sustainability and user outcomes. He is also a member of CCAV’s Automated Passenger Services Accessibility Advisory Panel, contributing to the development of inclusive automated transport systems, and a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society.

Steve Close, Senior Consultant, Connected Places Catapult (CPC)

Steve Close is a research and insight specialist who leads social research and insight projects at Connected Places Catapult. He champions stakeholder collaboration and uses creative methods to turn insight into action, inform strategy, measure impact, and shape new initiatives. With a multidisciplinary approach, he helps teams make smarter, more human-centred decisions when defining problems and developing solutions. 

He currently serves as technical lead for the Station Innovation Zone at Bristol Temple Meads, where innovators test and refine solutions to live station challenges while building understanding of how to overcome barriers to innovation. Recent work includes researching an accessible airport passenger experience and supporting transport innovation in rural UK communities.