Owners of e-bikes are unable to get the insurance required before a government crackdown on the machines and e-scooters starts on 16 Jan.
A string of major insurance companies confirmed to the Compass that they did not offer insurance policies on the machines.
One man, who asked not to be identified, confirmed his grown-up son, who had bought an e-bike to commute to work, had been refused insurance.
The man said, “He can’t find any local company as yet which will insure it. I imagine that’s the case with most of them currently on the roads.
“I’m not surprised that government entities imposed a mandate which isn’t possible to meet. Cart before the horse again.”
He highlighted that e-bikes in particular categories could be imported and duty charged on them.
But the man asked, “Thereafter they are essentially illegal. How is that supposed to be normal?”
Education campaign
The news came despite last month’s launch of an education campaign by the National Road Safety Committee in the run-up to a crackdown on unlicensed and unregistered personal e-bikes, e-scooters and conventional scooters, as well as other ‘mircromobility’ machines, such as Segways.
A Compass staff member asked two people at the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing if there were any forms to register an e-bike or scooter but was told they had no information on the vehicles or received any instructions on how to register them.
No insurance cover available
CG BritCay told the Compass when a reporter asked about e-bike insurance for a NAKTO Skylark model available in Cayman, “We are not actually insuring these at the moment – not anything with pedals.”
A staffer at Saxon Insurance said, “Unfortunately, at the moment we are not insuring e-bikes.”
Government-owned insurance firm CINICO told another Compass journalist who enquired about e-bike insurance: “We don’t offer this type of coverage currently, but it’s something that is under review.”
A CINICO employee said, “It’s not something insurance companies here offer.
The staff member added, “You’re not the only person asking these questions.
“If we do provide this cover, it will be made public knowledge as soon as we have information.”
The confusion in the private and public sectors was at odds with the official government line.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure insisted, “Insurers do not offer products labelled specifically as ‘e-bike’ or ‘e-scooter’ insurance and initial inquiries can sometimes result in a refusal where a device has not been clearly classified or assessed.
“In practice, insurance is issued on a case-by-case basis under existing motor insurance frameworks, in the same way motorcycles and mopeds are insured, once the device’s specifications are confirmed.”
The government later insisted, “Several local insurance providers already offer coverage options within this framework.”
The crackdown and information campaign announcement emphasised that legal requirements already in place would be enforced.
Enforcement phase
Eric Bush, chief officer at the ministry and also chairman of the National Road Safety Committee, said the campaign was designed to ensure “fairness and understanding ahead of enforcement”.
He added that, after the 16 Jan. enforcement phase started, “riders are expected to be compliant”.
The Traffic Law rules that riders of e-bikes, e-scooters and similar personal transport machines must be aged 17.
They must also hold a group 0 (moped and scooter) or group 1 (up to 125cc motorcycle) licence, a 1A (motorcycle over 125cc) licence or a full group 2 (private car) driving licence and ensure the vehicle is registered, licensed and insured.
Riders must also follow traffic signals, signage and road markings in line with other road users and only use the machines where allowed by law.
The government said, “These requirements are not new and reflect the principle that e-bikes and scooters operate in the same traffic environment as motor vehicles and must follow the same rules of the road.”