# Does riding an e-bike count as cycling? Canonical: https://zestasy.com/wiki/does-an-ebike-count/ Section: Zestasy Wiki > Movement · Updated: 2026-10-13 · Publisher: Zestasy *Zestasy Wiki: our reference answers. Checked for facts and sources; less curated than the magazine.* Yes. A standard pedal-assist e-bike only helps while you are pedalling, and in the UK, for example, the assistance must stop at 15.5 mph (about 25 km/h), so you are still riding a bike and still doing the work, just with a tailwind on demand. One study found people on e-bikes rode more often and for longer each week than on normal bikes, at a lower heart rate. E-bikes still get the occasional raised eyebrow from the lycra crowd, usually just before one glides past them up a hill. We think the question of whether they "count" is a bit like asking whether a walk counts if you wear good shoes. You are on a bike, you are pedalling, you are outside. It counts. ## What an e-bike actually does The e-bikes most people mean are pedal-assist bikes, sometimes called pedelecs. The motor adds power only while you pedal, and the amount depends on the assist level you choose, from barely-there to generous. In the UK, the government's [rules for electric bikes](https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules) say that an electrically assisted pedal cycle must have pedals that can propel it, a motor with a maximum continuous power of 250 watts, and assistance that stops when the bike is travelling at more than 15.5 mph (about 25 km/h). Riders must be at least 14. Rules differ from country to country, so check local regulations, especially for faster models and throttles. In short: on an ordinary e-bike, if you stop pedalling, you stop getting help. ## How much work you still do More than people think. You choose the assist level, and many riders use low settings on the flat and save the boost for hills, headwinds and the last stretch home. A study published in 2020 in the *International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health*, [Everyday Pedelec Use and Its Effect on Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7370133/), compared 101 employees using a pedelec and a conventional bike in daily life. On the e-bike, their heart rates were lower and the effort felt easier, but they rode more often and for more minutes each week, so their total weekly activity came out higher than on the normal bike. The study was short, two weeks for each bike, so it is a snapshot rather than the final word. That matches what many e-bike riders say: because it's easier, they ride more. ## What e-bikes open up This is the bit we like best. - **Hills stop being a reason not to go.** The hill town with the good lunch is suddenly on the menu. - **Commuting without arriving in a puddle.** Turn the assist up on the way in, down on the way home. Our guide to [starting to cycle to work](https://zestasy.com/movement/start-cycling-to-work/) applies either way. - **Riding with people of different speeds.** Couples, friends and families can ride together without someone waiting at every junction. - **Getting back on a bike after years away,** or keeping riding as the years go on. - **Carrying things.** Cargo e-bikes take shopping, children and the occasional large plant. - **Longer days out.** A [cycling day trip](https://zestasy.com/movement/planning-a-cycling-day-trip/) that felt too ambitious becomes realistic. ## A few practical points - **They are heavy.** Lifting one onto a train or up stairs is a two-handed job. - **Battery range varies** with assist level, hills, weight and weather. Plan longer rides around a charge. - **Brakes and tyres matter.** E-bikes reach their assisted speed quickly, so keep brakes in good shape and give yourself room to stop. - **Ride as you would on any bike.** Same road rules, same courtesy on shared paths, and slower near pedestrians. ## The etiquette question On group rides, the main rule is simple: don't use the motor to show off on climbs. Otherwise, mixed groups of e-bikes and normal bikes work well, and plenty of clubs welcome them. ## FAQ ### Is an e-bike cheating? Only if you are racing for a prize and the rules say no motors. For getting around, exploring and enjoying a ride, it's simply another kind of bike. ### Do I need a licence or insurance for an e-bike? The UK rules say you don't need a licence for a legal pedal-assist e-bike, and it doesn't need to be registered, taxed or insured. Faster models, or ones that move without pedalling, can fall under different rules, so check before you buy, and check locally if you ride abroad. ### Can I ride an e-bike with the motor off? Yes, though it will feel heavier than a normal bike. Many riders use the lowest setting rather than switching off entirely. ### Will an e-bike make me lazy about cycling? The 2020 study above found people actually rode more on e-bikes. Ease tends to mean more trips, not fewer. ## Sources - [GOV.UK: Riding an electric bike: the rules](https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules) - [Stenner et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020): Everyday Pedelec Use and Its Effect on Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7370133/) ## Related - [How do you start cycling to work?](https://zestasy.com/movement/start-cycling-to-work/) - [How do you plan a cycling day trip?](https://zestasy.com/movement/planning-a-cycling-day-trip/) - [How do you get better at cycling up hills?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/cycling-up-hills/) - [What kind of bike is best for getting around town?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/city-bike/) - [How do you plan a multi-day cycling holiday?](https://zestasy.com/wiki/cycling-holiday/) - [All Movement answers in the Wiki](https://zestasy.com/wiki/#movement)