Riders of e-bikes were told today that they have until the end of October to licence themselves and their vehicles, secure appropriate insurance and make sure they are wearing certified helmets.

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, said that the number of e-bikes on the island’s roads has increased “far faster than most of us had ever expected”.

He added that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are sharing space with “machines that can now go faster than a car”.

Mr Darrell listed four requirements that e-bike riders will need to meet by October 31.

They include licensing of e-bikes at the Transport Control Department as well as appropriate licences for riders of the vehicles.

He said: “Every e-bike must carry valid insurance, at a minimum that should be third-party insurance.”

The minister added: “Every rider must wear a proper, certified helmet.”

He said that TCD will be available over the duration of the compliance window for e-bike inspections and registrations on Saturdays from September 26.

Mr Darrell added that work was under way with insurers to make sure that appropriate insurance products are available for e-bike riders.

The announcements came after a number of incidents that caused concern for police, policymakers and the wider community.

Last week, an e-bike rider was taken to hospital after colliding with a rental car. A Bermuda Police Service spokesman said the bike rider, travelling in the opposite direction, apparently lost control while trying to overtake along a bend.

A 14-year-old boy was stopped in August after being clocked at 70 kilometres per hour, while investigations continue into a collision whereby a 71-year-old woman crossing a street in Hamilton was struck and injured by a 15-year-old male rider of an e-bike

Police said earlier that they would be targeting speeding, riding in a careless manner, riding without due care and attention, dangerous riding and failure to obey traffic signals, as outlined in the Road Traffic Act 1947.

However, e-bikes also appear to fall under the Auxiliary Bicycles Act 1954.

The Act defines an auxiliary cycle as a vehicle with two or three wheels intended or adapted for use on roads that is “electrically propelled” or “mechanically propelled” with a “motor capacity not exceeding 50 cubic centimetres”.

Peter Sanderson, an attorney who has handled many road traffic and personal injury matters, previously spoke of the dangers of not following the rules should a collision take place.

He said: “If you ever get into a situation, then the law is going to come down on you.”

E-bikes fall into different categories, as explained by Luke Lindo, the owner of Dr EV.

Pedal-assisted vehicles, in Class Two, are restricted to 20 miles per hour, while Class Three bikes reach 28mph.

Above that are e-motos. These machines can achieve top speeds of 100km/h.