Britons have been warned of the widespread use of unsafe, illegally modified e-bikes that pose serious fire risks across the UK.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) found that "fake e-bikes" which are often purchased through online marketplaces and used by delivery riders, have been creating an urgent threat requiring immediate Government action.

The inquiry, which received 60 written submissions and took in-person evidence from 13 key players, found that the UK's lack of regulation and enforcement around e-bike safety is putting lives at risk.

During the inquiry, the group found e-bikes sold by major online retailers with speeds of 40mph described as "for city commutes", and a 2,000-watt bike with a throttle pictured being used on city streets, both of which are illegal under UK law.

The Home Office revealed it will allow police to seize illegal e-bikes within 48 hours

Fire services reported that e-bikes and e-scooters are London's fastest-growing fire risk, with the London Fire Brigade attending 179 incidents in 2023, equivalent to one every two days.

The Metropolitan Police revealed they seized 1,551 illegal e-bikes within London in the last 12 months, while City of London Police's small seven-officer team seized 326 illegal e-bikes in just one square mile.

The report called on online retailers to immediately withdraw unsafe e-bike items from sale and make online marketplaces legally accountable for unsafe listings.

It demanded the reinstatement of "worker" status for gig economy riders to guarantee rights and protections, and calls for an end to the "Road-Legal Loophole" that allows illegal vehicles to be sold under the guise of off-road use.

E-bikes and e-scooters have been blamed for causing a large number of fires LONDON FIRE BRIGADE

The report stated: "Require a demonstrable legal use case for high-powered e-bikes and electric motorbikes. Fast-track legislation to legalise and regulate safe, certified e-scooters.

"Bans on legal e-bikes, rising public concern, and reputational damage to a critical mode of transport must be addressed with urgency and clarity."

The group has urged delivery companies to conduct real-time compliance checks on bikes used by couriers and police, and to be given new, simpler powers to seize unsafe e-bikes.

Earlier this month, the Home Office announced plans to give police new powers to seize and crush illegal e-bikes within 48 hours, marking a change from the current 14-day waiting period.

Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson explained that the new timeframe will provide "communities the swift justice they deserve".

A scrappage scheme for dangerous bikes used by couriers, funded by delivery companies, was also proposed in the report.

Other measures include the creation of a Government-backed e-bike safety kitemark to enable transport authorities and insurance companies to lift e-bike bans confidently.

In response to the report, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport Simon Lightwood told MPs he was "studying the APPG's report in detail", stating that "illegal e-bikes are clearly dangerous and have no place on our roads".

E-bike riders can face prosecution for failing to follow traffic rulesPA

The report warned that confusion between legal e-bikes and dangerous "fake e-bikes" is causing wider damage. Earlier this year, Transport for London decided to ban all non-foldable e-bikes on its network, while insurers have refused to cover homes or workplaces storing any e-bikes.

Disabled cycling charity Wheels for Wellbeing expressed alarm at these blanket bans, warning they disproportionately impact disabled cyclists who rely on e-cycles for mobility.

Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the APPGCW, said: "This is a crisis hiding in plain sight. While responsible cycling businesses continue to meet high safety standards, the rise of illegal and unsafe e-bikes, often bought online and used in the gig economy, has created serious risks for riders, the public, and the future of active travel.

"We need urgent action from the Government and industry to stop unsafe products entering the UK and to protect those being exploited while trying to earn a living."