Copenhagen police are warning about a dangerous new trend of tuned e-bikes speeding through the city at up to 60 kilometers per hour, creating hazardous situations on bike paths and potentially exposing riders to fines up to 15,000 kroner and millions in personal liability if accidents occur.
Illegal E-Bikes Create Dangerous Situations
You may have experienced being overtaken by a cyclist moving as fast as a car. That impression makes perfect sense because more e-bikes are now being tuned to exceed their designed speed limits. This modification is illegal and particularly prevalent in the capital region, according to both police and the Danish Road Safety Council.
Police Commissioner Benjamin Touré from Copenhagen Police is acutely aware of the problem. He notes that more e-bikes are appearing on the streets, and people are getting creative about making them go faster. The high speeds create dangerous conditions for everyone sharing the bike paths.
Easy Access to Tuning Equipment and Instructions
Benjamin Touré observes that many riders are finding creative ways to tune their e-bikes. These methods are widely shared on Facebook, where users in closed groups regularly discuss cycling in Copenhagen and how to modify their bikes. Many openly show off their tuned e-bikes reaching speeds close to 60 kilometers per hour, despite knowing it’s illegal.
Beyond Facebook groups displaying various tuned e-bikes, users also recommend different tuning methods. It takes only a few internet searches to find websites selling tuning equipment and YouTube videos showing installation instructions. Benjamin Touré criticizes this trend, emphasizing that police will become more creative in identifying and penalizing those who break the law. Fines can range between 10,000 and 15,000 kroner.
Sharp Rise in E-Bike Injuries
No specific statistics exist on how many illegal e-bikes are on the roads. However, a 2025 study from the University of Southern Denmark shows that e-bike sales doubled from 2019 to 2023. During the same period, injuries from e-bike accidents increased by approximately 76 percent, while accidents involving regular bicycles remained unchanged.
When Is an E-Bike Illegal?
According to regulations, an e-bike becomes illegal when modifications allow the motor to propel the bike faster than 25 kilometers per hour. While selling tuning equipment is legal, since modified e-bikes can be used on private roads, riding them on public roads is prohibited.
The problem with tuned e-bikes is particularly acute in the capital region because more people share limited space on bike paths. Jakob Bøving Arendt, managing director of the Danish Road Safety Council, acknowledges this is an issue throughout the country but feels more intense in the Copenhagen area.
Police Conduct Regular Inspections
Copenhagen Police frequently conduct raids to stop illegal e-bikes. Officers typically position themselves in high-traffic areas with bikes, cars, and pedestrians. They pull e-bikes aside for random checks on their testing equipment to determine if bikes are illegal. However, police don’t maintain statistics on how many illegal e-bikes they’ve confiscated.
Serious Insurance Consequences
Illegal e-bikes create problems beyond traffic safety. Insurance implications are substantial if riders cause accidents resulting in personal injury. Anne Garde Slothuus, an insurance expert at Forsikringsoplysningen, explains that if your e-bike is illegal, insurance may not cover damages, leaving you personally liable. In cases of severe personal injuries, costs could potentially reach millions of kroner.
The dangerous accident situations occur because of significant speed differences on bike paths. According to Jakob Bøving Arendt, fast e-bikes create hazardous conditions and make Danes feel unsafe. When e-bikes can travel faster than cars are allowed in the city, the speed differential creates extremely dangerous situations.
Challenges in Enforcement
Benjamin Touré, section leader in Copenhagen Police’s operational traffic department, admits spotting illegal e-bikes can be difficult. However, because making an e-bike illegal is easy, police must intensify their focus on combating these modified bikes. He notes that many things become more accessible online, regardless of the type of violation someone wants to commit. He can only advise people against doing it.
Despite enforcement challenges, police continue their efforts to identify and penalize riders using illegal e-bikes. As the trend grows and tuning methods become more widespread, authorities face an uphill battle in keeping Copenhagen’s bike paths safe for all users.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Cycling in Copenhagen – A Comprehensive Guide
The Danish Dream: Best Bike Insurance in Denmark for Foreigners
TV2: Politiet advarer mod ny og farlig cykel-tendens
