Tag Archive: bicycle association

  1. UK Bicycle Association urges implementation of E-bike Action Plan

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    Source: Cycling Industry News

    The UK’s Bicycle Association (BA) has published a comprehensive E-bike Action Plan for the government, which aims to tackle the thorny topic of fires which are attributed to unsafe e-bike batteries.

    The plan takes care to emphasise strongly that these fires are mainly caused by unsafe or incompatible products which have been sourced from poorly-regulated online marketplaces; this is in contrast to standards-compliant, safe e-bike products which are handled and sold by many of BA’s member retailers. The plan also highlights that the “gig economy” of delivery riders is one of the main catalysts in the demand for the unsafe products, and calls for reform of this sector.

    The BA outlines three key actions required of Government:

    • Stop unsafe imports, particularly those reaching consumers directly via poorly regulated online marketplaces
    • Reform of the “gig economy” delivery sector, which drives demand for unsafe e-bike conversion kits, batteries and chargers, and incentivises the “tuning” or de-restriction of legal e-bikes 
    • Close legal loopholes which permit the legal sale of non-road-legal e-bikes and conversion kits

    BA Executive Director, Steve Garidis, said:

    “Even the safest, fully legal e-bikes are being seriously reputationally damaged by association with fires in unsafe products completely beyond the UK industry’s control. The legitimate e-bike category in the UK is at serious risk as a result. E-bike sales have fallen significantly in recent years, in stark contrast to the worldwide trend, as users face repeated headlines about e-bike dangers, and consequent blanket restrictions on access and insurance.

    Companies in the legitimate UK cycle industry take full legal responsibility for the safety of the products they supply. We think it’s high time that the online marketplaces and gig economy delivery companies take on that same responsibility, and that sales of non-road-legal e-bikes are banned.”

    The plan also highlights that the UK cycling industry is already proactively helping consumers and other stakeholders (including premises managers and transport operators) to distinguish between reputable, safe e-bikes and high-risk products. Steps taken include:

    • Setting up a voluntary “BA register of safety-audited e-bike brands”, enabling consumers identify reputable brands
    • Establishing the “E-bike Positive Responsible Retailer Pledge” to identify shops committed the safe supply and repair of e-bikes and associated components
    • Publishing consumer guidance to assist in buying and charging safely
    • Engaging actively with key stakeholders including government, transport authorities, public transport operators and organisations, the insurance and underwriter industries, international standards development bodies, fire and rescue services, safety charities and more

    The E-bike Action Plan can be downloaded here.

  2. Predicted growth for UK cycling market in 2025 following decline

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    Source: Bicycle Association

    The UK cycling trade’s association, the Bicycle Association (BA), has forecast a return to growth in the cycling market in 2025, following a slower rate of decline in 2024.

    At its annual members conference in Birmingham, England, on March 12, BA members received insights on how the market performed last year, with sales declining by 2% compared to 2023, continuing the post-COVID downturn that began in the latter half of 2021. However, a positive sign emerged as the annual rate of decline eased in 2024, with market performance stabilizing in the second half of the year after a difficult start.

    Key findings from the Bicycle Association market report

    John Worthington, from the BA’s data and insights team, presented key findings from the organization’s latest 60-page market analysis report:

    • Mechanical Bicycle Sales: Volumes fell by 4%, bringing the total estimated market volume down to approximately 1.45 million units in 2024, marking the lowest level in the 21st century.
    • E-Bike Market: Despite a 5% decline in sales, largely due to heavy discounting, e-bike volumes reached an estimated 146,000 units, accounting for 9% of total bike sales.
    • Children’s Cycling Trends: While cycling participation among children aged 5-16 stabilized at 21% (according to Sport England), it remains 6 percentage points lower than in 2018-2019. Sales of children’s bikes continued to decline, now roughly one-third lower than pre-COVID levels.
    • Performance of Enthusiast Bicycles: Higher-end road and mountain bike sales showed year-over-year growth despite the overall market downturn.
    • Bike Journeys vs. Bike Sharing: While overall bike journeys dropped below 2019 levels, bike-sharing services saw strong performance.
    • PAC and Service Market Performance: Parts, accessories, and clothing (PAC) sales declined by 2% in volume but increased by 3% in value, particularly driven by strong sales in turbo trainers and indoor cycling equipment. Services, including bicycle maintenance and repair, were the strongest-performing segment, with volume and value rising by 7% and 5%, respectively.

    UK market outlook for 2025

    Despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges, the BA anticipates a gradual market recovery in 2025. Forecasts predict a 2% growth in bike sales, a 3% increase in PAC sales, and a 3% rise in services. However, e-bike sales are expected to decline further by 1%.

    Simon Irons, BA’s Data & Insights Director, remarked, “This report is a challenging read. The post-Covid overstocking, and associated heavy discounting levels in the market, persist and our industry still has a real challenge to restore margins and increase value. The continued decline in kids’ cycling participation and kids’ bike sales is particularly concerning, given these are our cyclists of the future.”

    BA’s expansion and market data initiatives

    The BA’s Market Data Annual Report draws from various sources, including its Market Data Service, which tracks approximately 70% of UK cycling retailers by volume. The full report is freely available to Market Data subscribers, with a summary provided to all BA members.

    Additionally, the BA has secured European Commission grant funding to expand its Market Data Service into Germany in collaboration with the German cycling trade association. The funding will also support the development of new software tools to benefit BA members and subscribers.

    The full report can be purchased here.

  3. UK’s Bicycle Association complains about e-bike misrepresentation in BBC’s Panorama

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    Source: Bicycle Association

    The UK’s national cycle industry trade body, the Bicycle Association, has published their formal complaint to the BBC about the recent coverage of e-bikes and illegal e-motorbikes on the programme Panorama.

    The letter, titled “Complaint: Panorama – E-bikes: the battle for our streets” reads:

    Dear BBC,

    I write for the Bicycle Association, the trade association for the UK cycle industry, representing ca 140 companies, including most of the reputable UK companies who supply safe, fully road-legal e-bikes. These companies include household names and well-known high-street retailers. You can view our full member list here.

    We wish to register a formal complaint about the programme “Panorama – E-bikes: the battle for our streets” presented by Adrian Chiles, broadcast on BBC 1 on the 6th January 2025.

    Our main concerns are:

    • The programme repeatedly conflates the safety and social issues surrounding the use of illegal e-motorbikes with “e-bikes” and fails to make it clear that these issues are overwhelmingly not caused by (road legal) e-bikes. This is compounded by the juxtaposition (without distinction) of footage of both illegal e-motorbikes and road-legal e-bikes, implying that they are one and the same. This misrepresentation is against the public interest and not fair or accurate (hence in breach of BBC editorial guidelines)
    • In the choice of “expert” – an enthusiast with a collection of illegal e-motorbikes, not road legal e-bikes – the programme in effect promoted illegal e-motorbike use. No reputable road legal e-bike supplier or cycle industry representative was featured. No fair balance or representation from the reputable e-bike sector was provided, also in breach of BBC editorial guidelines.
    • It is stated that the laws and regulations around e-bikes are unclear or insufficient. This is factually incorrect – the law is completely clear about what is or is not a road legal e-bike (EAPC). We have an info sheet on this and the Government guidance is also perfectly clear. Any electrically powered two wheeler that is not a road legal e-bike (EAPC), or a properly type approved and registered e-moped/e-motorbike, is an illegal e-motorbike. There are legitimate questions about the extent of enforcement of these rules, but the rules themselves are completely clear.
    • The reputable UK cycle and e-bike industry fully supports all and any measures to enforce the current very clear legislation and to remove illegal e-motorbikes from our streets. We also call for reforms of the food delivery sector to address use of illegal e-motorbikes by delivery riders.

    However, these issues are entirely distinct from the road legal e-bike category, which offers many health and mobility benefits for the general public, including many disabled people.

    We consider that this programme has, by confusing these issues, both failed to properly inform the public and also unjustifiably damaged the road legal e-bike sector through misrepresentation.

    We urge the BBC to:

    • Remove “E-bikes” from the programme title and instead reference “illegal e-motorbikes”.
    • In future programming on this subject, make it fully clear and properly inform the public that e-bikes and illegal e-motorbikes are two entirely separate categories.
    • Provide proper balance when addressing contentious transport issues, including featuring representation by responsible organisations in the sector.

    Yours sincerely,

    Peter Eland