E-Bike Positive scheme scoops major national industry award for cycling advocacy

An e-bike safety and positivity advocacy campaign, run in part by Bira Group partners The Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), has won the Cycle Advocacy of the Year award at the 2026 BikeBiz Awards, recognising its work to improve e-bike safety, raise standards and help consumers identify legal and reputable e-bikes and retailers.

The awards were held at The Button Factory in Birmingham on 15 October, with more than 140 guests from across the cycling industry attending, while the ACT was in attendance to collect the award on behalf of the E-Bike Positive campaign.

E-Bike Positive is a collaborative scheme developed by the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) and the Bicycle Association, bringing verified brands and approved retailers together under a single trust mark to help consumers make safer, more informed choices when buying an e-bike.

In June, E-Bike Positive introduced its new Retailer Commitment as it prepared for its full public launch, marking the initiative’s evolution from a consumer awareness campaign into a formal, industry-backed trust mark scheme, with the trust mark launching publicly in July. The launch coincided with research at the time finding that 84% of Britons were not confident they could distinguish a road-legal e-bike from an illegally modified one.

E-Bike Positive has also gained significant momentum in recent months, with support from MPs, Government ministers and Transport for London, Government e-bike safety guidance being updated to encourage consumers to look for E-Bike Positive brands and retailers, and the APPCWG proposing a Westminster Hall debate on tougher regulation of illegal e-bikes.

The awards also saw a strong showing from ACT members, with Pauls Cycles winning Omnichannel Retailer, The Woods Cyclery winning Specialist Retailer, and Ashley Smith of The Surrey Bike Mechanic named Mechanic of the Year.

In the IBD of the Year category, Big Bear Bikes, winner of the inaugural Local Bike Shop Week Awards in 2026, was also among the nominees, with The Cycle Hub taking the award.

Other ACT members recognised included Shameem Vesamia and Eisa Vesamia, both of A&S Cycles - also a finalist in the Local Bike Shop Week Awards this year - who were nominated for Woman of the Year and Mechanic of the Year respectively. ACT service partner Bikebook won Retailer Services through Workshop by Bikebook.

Sportline, sister company of Madison, won Bike Distributor, while Madison won Best Distributor Team and Madison Clothing won P&A Brand, with Madison also having been a sponsor of the inaugural Local Bike Shop Week Award in 2026.