London councils could gain new powers to fine drunk e-bike riders and impose parking standards as part of a Government crackdown on anti-social behaviour involving hire bikes.
The proposals are part of a wider push to tackle dangerous riding and poorly parked dockless e-bikes across the capital. They follow social media footage of cyclists speeding along pavements and swerving around pedestrians in recent weeks.
Badly parked hire bikes have been a persistent source of frustration for Londoners since the schemes were introduced in 2017.
Ending the 'wild west' of e-bike parking
The Government wants to end the “wild west” of e-bike parking by giving councils greater control over how hire operators run their services.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “E-bikes can make getting around that bit easier, but when they block pavements or are used irresponsibly they can be a real frustration.
“I want to sort that by giving communities more control over where they are parked and making sure companies and riders play by the rules.
“While making the big, long-term changes to make transport better and more affordable for people across the country, this is a small but important everyday fix to make our streets safer.”
New powers for boroughs
Under proposals from the Department for Transport (DfT), boroughs could introduce minimum standards that e-bike companies including Lime, Forest and Voi would have to meet. These could include parking plans to prevent dockless bikes being abandoned where they obstruct pavements or make it difficult for pedestrians to get around.
Councils could also gain powers to set penalties for riders caught cycling under the influence, riding on pavements or using hire bikes when underage, including issuing fines. The proposals would allow boroughs to draw up fleet management plans, giving them control over the number of hire bikes in their area and where they can be deployed, to prevent streets becoming overcrowded.
Insurance and consultation
There are also proposals to introduce insurance requirements for operators, which could make it easier for pedestrians to claim compensation if injured in a collision involving a hire e-bike.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Shared e-bike schemes have revolutionised the way people travel around our towns and cities. They are easy to use, get us active and help reduce emissions, but we need to make sure they work with the communities where they operate.
"That’s why we are taking decisive action to give local leaders the power to stop nuisance parking, tackle antisocial behaviour and make journeys safer."
E-bike operators have previously called for clearer rules on how and where they can operate, ending the fragmented, borough-by-borough patchwork of regulations. In London, the Transport Secretary is working with the mayor and TfL to give TfL powers to oversee and enforce rules across the capital, replacing the different standards currently applied by individual boroughs.
The plans are subject to a consultation that launched today.
