Douglas Lumsden

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve pedestrian safety in areas with high e-bike usage.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is committed to enhancing safety across Scotland’s road network.The Road Safety Framework to 2030 sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in the world by 2030. This contains mode and user specific …

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the role of retailers in ensuring that customers purchasing e-bikes are informed about legal requirements.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government notes that Police Scotland have engaged in communications activity to ensure customers purchasing e-bikes are aware of the associated legal requirements under road traffic law. The Scottish Government recognises that it is important fo…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it collects data on the number of e-bikes that are imported into Scotland that do not meet UK safety standards.

Answer · Angela Constance: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32699 on 10 January 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committe…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the use of technology to identify and monitor illegal e-bikes, such as speed tracking or motor compliance checks.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government maintains contact with the UK Government on the shared challenge of tackling illegal e-bikes. The Scottish Government has noted the work undertaken by the UK Government through its Defence and Security Accelerator to undertake research…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the number of incidents involving illegal e-bikes that have resulted in injuries to pedestrians over the past three years.

Answer · Angela Constance: Data on collisions which cause injury and take place on the road network, including adjacent pavements and cycle lanes, is collected by Police Scotland as part of the GB-wide dataset known as STATS19.Within STATS19, vehicles involved in injury road collisions…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many illegal e-bikes have been seized in each year since 2020.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial or legal support is available to pedestrians injured in accidents involving illegal e-bikes.

Answer · Angela Constance: Pedestrians injured in accidents involving illegal e-bikes are strongly encouraged to inform Police Scotland who can undertake a criminal investigation. Those who suffer injuries and believe that another party is at fault are able to bring a civil action befo…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what campaigns or public awareness initiatives are planned to educate the public about the legal requirements for e-bikes.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes is a reserved matter for the UK Government. For an e-bike to be legal for use in the UK, they must meet the criteria of an electrically assisted pedal cycle and the electric motor should not be able to propel the bik…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what percentage of e-bikes that have been seized in each year since 2020 were imported from abroad without safety compliance warnings.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many illegally modified e-bikes have been seized in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas since January 2024.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement measures are in place to ensure compliance with regulations on e-bikes, including (a) speed limits and (b) motor output restrictions.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes is a reserved matter for the UK Government. For an e-bike to be legal for use in the UK, they must meet the criteria of an electrically assisted pedal cycle and the electric motor should not be able to propel the bik…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risks posed by illegally modified e-bikes to pedestrians, including vulnerable groups such as visually impaired people.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes, their risk to the public and regulatory standards, is a reserved matter for the UK Government. For an e-bike to be legal for use in the UK, they must meet the criteria of an electrically assisted pedal cycle and the…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the types of modifications commonly made to e-bikes that render them illegal, including the use of high-powered motors and throttle systems.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many accidents involving illegal e-bikes have been recorded in each of the last three years, broken down by parliamentary region.

Answer · Angela Constance: Data on collisions which cause injury and take place on the road network, including adjacent pavements and cycle lanes, is collected by Police Scotland as part of the GB-wide dataset known as STATS19.Within STATS19, vehicles involved in injury road collisions…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average estimated cost to Police Scotland is of seizing and processing an illegal e-bike.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.This information is held by Police Scotland.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been charged in connection with the use of illegal e-bikes in Aberdeen in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any reports from Aberdeen regarding collisions or incidents involving illegal e-bikes, and, if so, what follow-up action was taken.

Answer · Angela Constance: This information is not collected by the Scottish Government but The Scottish Government’s Community Safety Policy team has recently received one piece of correspondence concerning a collision involving an e-bike in the Aberdeen area.Officials are worki…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital admissions, as a result of injuries to pedestrians caused by illegal e-bikes, there have been in each of the last five years.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many hospital admissions, as a result of injuries to pedestrians caused by illegal e-bikes, there have been in each of the last five years.Incidents are recorded as either:1. Pedestrian injured in colli…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many retailers or importers in Scotland have been found to be selling e-bikes that are not compliant with UK regulations, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Angela Constance: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. When local authority trading standards services find products that are non-compliant with the relevant product safety legislation this should be input into the Product Safety Database. This is operated …

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the severity of injuries caused by illegal e-bike collisions compared with those involving regular bicycles.

Answer · Angela Constance: Data on collisions which cause injury and take place on the road network, including adjacent pavements and cycle lanes, is collected by Police Scotland as part of the GB-wide dataset known as STATS19.Within STATS19, vehicles involved in injury road collisions…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents involving illegal e-bikes have been reported in Aberdeen in each of the last three years.

Answer · Angela Constance: Data on collisions which cause injury and take place on the road network, including adjacent pavements and cycle lanes, is collected by Police Scotland as part of the GB-wide dataset known as STATS19.Within STATS19, vehicles involved in injury road collisions…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what resources are available to Police Scotland in Aberdeen for monitoring and addressing the reported issue of illegal e-bikes.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government’s 2024-25 budget includes record police funding of £1.55 billion, which is an increase of £92.7 million on the 2023-24 Scottish Police Authority budget.Official statistics show there were 16,427 FTE police officers at…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what protocols are in place to (a) respond to incidents involving illegal e-bikes and (b) support the victims of any such incidents.

Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints about illegal e-bikes Police Scotland has received from residents in Aberdeen in each of the last three years.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.This information is held by Police Scotland.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to Aberdeen City Council to ensure the effective enforcement of laws regulating e-bikes.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government fully supports local authorities and their partners in dealing with the misuse of such vehicles.There is no record of Aberdeen City Council having requested support from the Scottish Government to enforce the laws regulating e-bikes.Su…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has on the effectiveness of current e-bike regulations in reducing the prevalence of illegal modifications.

Answer · Angela Constance: Legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes and regulatory standards is a reserved matter for the UK Government. For an e-bike to be legal for use in the UK, they must meet the criteria of an electrically assisted pedal cycle and the electric motor should not …

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic losses or costs to public services have been identified that are attributable to accidents involving illegal e-bikes.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Data on collisions which cause injury and take place on the road network, including adjacent pavements and cycle lanes, is collected by Police Scotland as part of the GB-wide dataset known as STATS19.Within STATS19, vehicles involved in injury road collisions…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the adequacy of current laws regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters on public roads and pavements.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Legislation surrounding the use of e-bikes and e-Scooters is a reserved matter for the UK Government.For an e-bike to be legal for use in the UK, they must be electrically assisted pedal cycles and the electric motor should not be able to propel the bike when…

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to address the use of illegal e-bikes in Aberdeen city centre, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. I have asked Police Scotland to write to you on this matter.

19 Dec 2024 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the reported growing number of illegally modified e-bikes in city centres.

Answer · Angela Constance: Enforcement of traffic offences, including the illegal use of e-scooters and electric bikes, is an operational matter for Police Scotland, with oversight provided by the Scottish Police Authority which operates independently of Scottish Ministers.The Scottish…