Crime & Legal

Police sergeant claims “under current legislation e-bikes are deemed to be motor vehicles” after targeted crackdown on illegal “nuisance” vehicles

When approached by road.cc for comment, the sergeant clarified that “some e-bikes should be regarded as motor vehicles and hence require insurance and tax”

Reported bike thefts at train stations fall by 11% after British Transport Police’s ‘no investigation’ U-turn… but proportion of thieves charged doubles

CCTV use to track down bike thieves at railway stations has also increased, despite the British Transport Police claiming earlier this year that reviewing footage meant officers had less time “investigating crimes which cause the most harm”

New police “safety patrol” to stop speeding cyclists on shared path… but only when they’re “clearly exceeding” 15mph speed limit

Cambridgeshire County Council announced the restrictions along the Guided Busway last year, but the authority is now ramping up its enforcement against "dangerous" and "anti-social" behaviour

“No place on our roads and pavements,” says government as number of illegal bikes seized by police soars by 83%

7,049 illegal bikes were confiscated by police in the UK between May 2025 and May 2026, with Labour MP Julie Minns warning that they are the “perfect accessory to phone theft, mugging, and drug dealing” while endangering pedestrians and drivers

Tipper truck driver with previous motoring convictions who killed cyclist in London avoids prison ‘by the skin of his teeth’ after trial that took more than three years to reach court

Tristan Renshaw - who has driving convictions dating back almost 30 years for dangerous driving and driving without a licence - was sentenced to an 18-month suspended sentence, a 12-month driving ban and 150 hours of unpaid work after being convicted of causing death by careless driving

Cycle path “creating a constant stream of arguments between drivers and cyclists” should be altered “so cyclists give way to vehicles”, demands councillor expelled from Reform UK

The section of cycle path in Exeter should have give way markings on it so cyclists must give way to traffic turning into the side road from the main carriageway, according to Councillor Ed Hill

London e-bike hire operator Forest to provide third-party insurance for riders following compensation controversies

Forest refused to comment further when asked about the finer details of its insurance rollout first reported by the Times, but the move follows a widely publicised story about a pedestrian who was unable to claim compensation after she was injured by a Forest bike rider

“No idea how he hadn’t seen him”: Van driver avoids jail after killing cyclist riding with two rear lights

The motorist, who had previously received penalty points for using his phone at the wheel, was banned from driving for three years

Man who found it “funny” to push woman off bike avoids jail; Unqualified, unfit driver on wrong side of road jailed for 7 years for killing cyclist; 10 years prison for driver who killed cyclist then drove in 100mph chase: road.cc sentencing round-up

The latest instalment of our sentencing round-up series, analysing the state of play when it comes to sentencing for driving and cycling offences in the UK

Man arrested after stolen Unibet Rose Rockets bikes recovered by French police

The team had previously asked fans to keep an eye out for the stolen bikes whilst warning thieves, "Rose Bikes are pretty nice. But stealing them is definitely not the way to get your hands on one."

Police say “not appropriate” to release close pass footage captured by cyclist fined £1,200 in viral clip

West Yorkshire Police has told road.cc that the motorist was offered to take a driver retraining course following the close pass, while the cyclist was dealt with through the courts

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“I didn’t know if I had just been naïve”: German cyclist “embarrassed” as bike stolen from Newcastle metro station days after completing Land’s End to John O’Groats ride

“I locked up my bike at the station but when I came back someone had taken it. I couldn’t believe it”

Police say “Operation SNAP has become so successful” as they continue not to investigate close passes without being able to measure passing distances

A year on from no longer issuing warning letters, Welsh police forces' inaction has been shared with us by road.cc readers

“It sucks”: Thieves smash window and steal bikes in raid on Unibet Rose Rockets cycling team van

“Bike theft is, unfortunately, something that happens far too often in cycling,” the team said

“When we ride the bike, we see people like this too many times”: UAE Team Emirates won’t take legal action against hit-and-run road rage driver who brake checked Brandon McNulty before Tour de France TT

McNulty shared a photo of the motorist’s car on social media after he caused the American to crash shortly before Tuesday’s time trial. He later abandoned the race on Thursday.

Police to stop using “bogus” e-bike speed test as charges against delivery cyclist who had £6,000 cargo bike seized and destroyed are dropped

The bike shop that loaned the bike to the cyclist has also been reimbursed, with West Midlands Police now saying it will explore “alternative testing” after admitting the method used by its officers was “not accurate”

“Fewer people cycling or scooting does not make roads safer”: Minister criticised for suggesting Irish Government would consider mandatory hi-vis and helmets for all cyclists

The minister also did not rule out introducing registration plates for cyclists, though he said the government was focused on the "enormity of the e-scooter problem"

Police seize and destroy delivery cyclist’s legal e-bike hired through council-funded scheme after “bogus” test – but officers claim rider didn’t have insurance

The cyclist’s e-bike was seized after officers tested its speed by lifting the back wheel and turning the pedals, clocking a speed of 47kph – which they claimed was proof that the bike failed to meet the current regulations

Pro boxer Hannah Rapp killed while cycling by road rage driver who deliberately reversed into her, police in Texas say

26-year-old Rapp, who challenged for the WBC women’s featherweight championship last month, was riding her bike when a motorist passed her, stopped suddenly, and reversed into her

“I’ve done nothing wrong”: Wanted road rage driver “gets away” with assaulting cyclist because he failed to turn up to court

Police say an arrest warrant remains in place for the motorist, who was found guilty of assault after getting out of his car and kicking a cyclist following a dangerous close pass

Rohan Dennis facing jail after pleading guilty to driving while banned following death of wife Melissa Hoskins

Last year, the former professional cyclist was handed a suspended prison sentence and disqualified from driving for five years for causing the death of world champion and Olympian Hoskins

“I could have been killed”: London cyclist who broke jaw and both elbows after hitting ‘invisible’ plastic cycle lane divider sues council

Greg Simmons suffered the horrific injuries after being 'catapulted' from his bike - Enfield Council is refusing to pay up, claiming that the divider was not defective

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has new e-bike stolen “first time she took it to town”… then told there’s no CCTV available despite filming numerous cameras

It's not the first time Thames Valley Police have attracted the ire of cyclists

“A false understanding of the law”: Labour MP demands BBC amends ‘e-bike injury payouts’ article that failed to mention £110m in claims all involved illegal bikes

Fabian Hamilton also called for the BBC to give training to its editorial teams to ensure they are aware of the distinction between illegal electric motorbikes and street legal e-bikes (EAPCs)

Nine years in jail for drug driver 16 times over limit who killed oncoming cyclist; Suspended sentence for killing cyclist whilst attempting 3-point turn; Driving ban for 84-year old for injuring cyclist but no retest required: road.cc sentencing round-up

The latest instalment of our new sentencing round-up series, analysing the state of play when it comes to sentencing for driving and cycling offences in the UK

Son of pensioner killed by cyclist calls for cycling speed limits to deter “dangerous” riders and “protect pedestrians”

Gerard Griffiths asked Westminster City Council to "lead the way" and "change the behaviour of those who ignore the rules"

“Sometimes I wish I had died”: Cyclist had quarter of his skull removed after fly-tipped, asbestos-riddled shed on blind bend caused “catastrophic” crash

Truck driver Craig Frewin was jailed for 16 months for “deliberately and cynically” dumping the dismantled shed on the road

Rohan Dennis stopped by police for driving whilst disqualified after ban following death of Melissa Hoskins

The former pro cyclist was handed a five-year driving disqualification and a suspended prison sentence for his role in the death of his wife

“Drivers kill five people every day. Cyclists hardly kill anybody”: Police chiefs accused of ignoring “massive imbalance” as new campaign brands road safety “a shared duty” and officers crack down on rule-breaking riders

“People just seem to be so angry with cyclists all the time, any excuse to cut them up and they’ll take it,” one cyclist said, as campaigners criticised the police’s “well-intentioned but poorly thought through” safety message

Phone driver who took selfie, watched videos, and sent messages before killing cyclist jailed for five years, as hit-and-run motorist who also struck rider handed suspended sentence

The driver was using Snapchat and Instagram moments before the collision, and sent a message shortly afterwards saying: “I’ve just hit someone”