A new national survey on E‑bikes between mobility and safety, presented in Italy’s Chamber of Deputies by UNASCA and Format Research, shows strong public support for clearer rules on light electric mobility. More than eight out of ten Italians favour an identification system for e‑bikes to fight theft and the black market, make it easier to trace stolen vehicles and improve accountability after crashes or unsafe behaviour.
The study confirms how fast the market is growing: one in five bicycles sold in Italy is now electric, with e‑bikes’ share of total bike sales rising from 3% in 2014 to just over 20% in 2024. Around one in three drivers uses an e‑bike, often for commuting and work trips in large cities, attracted by lower running costs, environmental benefits and practicality in dense urban traffic. At the same time, 16.5% of respondents have suffered, or know someone who has suffered, an e‑bike theft, and about 60–65% believe that illegal “tuning” to increase power and speed is widespread, blurring the line between pedelecs and de‑facto mopeds.
Most users say they know whether their e‑bike complies with Italian and EU rules that limit rated power to 250 W and assistance to 25 km/h, but the survey highlights a strong demand for enforcement tools focused on higher‑power, throttle‑equipped bikes that exceed legal limits. Supporters argue that a simple, proportionate ID system integrated into the Highway Code could help distinguish compliant bikes from modified vehicles, curb theft and improve road safety without penalising sustainable urban mobility. Lawmakers and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport have linked the findings to ongoing work on updating Italy’s road code, with the shared goal of accompanying the rapid growth of light electric mobility with clearer, better‑known rules.
