Due to some bizarre legal twist, to date Northern Ireland had not aligned its legislation for e-bikes with EU legislation. Whilst all member states, including all other UK nations, had equated electric bicycles with pedal assistance up to 25 lm/h and 250 W with conventional bicycles, Northern Ireland insisted on applying motorcycle terms of use.

As a result, e-bikers had to register their vehicle, they had to have a license and insurance and they had to wear a motorcycle helmet. Needless to say that the e-bike market in Northern Ireland did not really take off. In 2017, Halfords withdrew all e-bikes from the Northern Irish market.

Due to the deadlock in government formation, the problem could not be solved by law. Now that Northern Ireland has a government again and following the renewed interest in (e)cycling due to Corona, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon brought the correct(ed) e-bike legislation to the Northern Irish Assembly.

From now on, e-bikers in Northern Ireland are allowed to ride under the same conditions as conventional cyclists: without registration, license, insurance and helmet. Long overdue but better late than never, unless, of course, Brexit results in yet another bizarre twist in legislation.