“While people in other parts of the UK can use an e-bike like an ordinary bicycle, the fact that historical legislation means e-bikes are still classified as mopeds in Northern Ireland is putting people off buying one. The province is set to miss out on the benefits unless those antiquated laws are changed.”

This was the assertion made by Greg Wilson (pictured), founder of insurance comparison platforms CompareNI.com and Quotezone.co.uk, while offering his views on what needs to happen if Northern Ireland does not want to be left behind perks-wise amid what he called the e-bike revolution.    

In Northern Ireland, e-bike users are required to hold a moped licence, register the bicycle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, and have an MOT. Wilson’s camp highlighted that a proposed bill that would have aligned legislation with that in the rest of Britain was never passed due to the collapse of the power-sharing government in 2017.

According to CompareNI.com’s research, a standard taxpayer choosing a £1,000 bike may typically save £70 to £250 under the UK’s Cycle to Work scheme but those living in Northern Ireland would instead face at least £290 in additional costs.

It was further noted that Quotezone.co.uk’s new bicycle insurance comparison system, which was rolled out earlier this year, will be unable to provide insurance quotes to e-bike owners with a Northern Ireland postcode until the e-bike bill becomes law.