England’s First ‘Cycle Street’ Signals a Big Shift for Active Travel

England’s first official “Cycle Street” has opened in Cambridge, and it could mark an exciting new chapter for cycling infrastructure across the UK.

Inspired by the Dutch “fietsstraat” model, the new street gives clear priority to people cycling and walking, while motorists are treated as “guests” on the road. The aim is simple: safer, calmer and more enjoyable journeys for everyone. According to reports, the route already sees around 3,000 cyclists using it each day, making it one of Cambridge’s busiest cycling corridors.

For anyone who regularly rides a bike, electric or otherwise, it’s encouraging to see cycling infrastructure continuing to evolve in Britain.

A Growing Cycling Nation?

Cycling in England has steadily grown in recent years, driven by rising fuel costs, increased congestion, health awareness and a growing appetite for greener transport.

According to government travel statistics, millions of cycling trips are made across England every week, while towns and cities nationwide continue investing in better active travel infrastructure. Cambridge has long been one of the UK’s cycling capitals, but similar projects are increasingly appearing in London, Manchester, Bristol and beyond.

Importantly, these developments aren’t just about commuting. More people are now cycling for everyday journeys, school runs, shopping trips, social visits and weekend leisure rides, helped significantly by the rise of electric bikes.

E-bikes make cycling more accessible to a wider range of riders, flattening hills, reducing effort on longer journeys and helping more people leave the car at home more often.

Are E-Bikes Legally Treated as Bicycles in the UK?

As cycling infrastructure improves, it’s also worth clearing up a common misconception around electric bikes.

In the UK, electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) are tightly regulated by law. To qualify as a legal e-bike, the bike must:

• Have pedals that propel the bike
• Provide motor assistance only while pedalling
• Cut motor assistance at 15.5mph (25km/h)
• Use a motor with a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watts

When an e-bike meets these regulations and complies with strict UK and European cycle safety standards, it is legally treated as a conventional bicycle for road use.

That means:

• No driving licence required
• No road tax
• No MOT
• No insurance requirement
• No registration plates

E-cyclists can use cycle lanes, shared-use paths and cycling infrastructure in exactly the same way as traditional bicycles, while still benefiting from a helpful boost when needed.

At VOLT, all of our e-bikes are fully UK road legal and built to comply with the relevant EN15194 European e-bike safety standards.

Better Streets Benefit Everyone

What’s particularly interesting about Cambridge’s new Cycle Street is that it reflects a wider shift in thinking around urban transport.

Rather than simply moving cars faster, modern street design is increasingly focused on making roads safer, quieter and more pleasant for all users including pedestrians, cyclists, families and local residents.

Research from countries with more developed cycling infrastructure consistently shows that better cycling facilities can encourage more people to travel actively, reduce congestion and improve local air quality.

And crucially, e-bikes are helping accelerate that change.

For many people, an electric bike becomes a realistic replacement for short car journeys, especially in busy urban areas where parking, fuel costs and traffic are becoming increasingly frustrating.

Are ‘Cycle Streets’ The Future of British Travel Infrastructure?

Will “Cycle Streets” become more common across the UK? It certainly feels possible.

As towns and cities continue investing in active travel, projects like this could help normalise safer, more cycle-friendly streets nationwide.

And with e-bike adoption continuing to grow, infrastructure that supports confident everyday riding has never felt more relevant.

At VOLT, we believe the future of transport should be cleaner, healthier and more enjoyable and developments like this are another encouraging step in the right direction.

If you’re unsure about how a road-legal electric bike feels to ride, why not book a test ride with VOLT today?