Drunk e-bike riders in London could face fines under new measures aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour. Councils in the capital are set to gain new powers to penalise riders as part of a wider crackdown on the 'wild west' use and parking of e-bikes across the city.
Social media has been flooded with images and videos of poorly parked e-bikes and users crossing red lights as their popularity has grown.
Government plans for national e-bike standard
The proposals, set out by the Department for Transport (DfT), aim to establish a national standard for e-bikes to make journeys safer and pavements clearer. They would include giving law enforcement bodies the ability to issue fines for illegal and anti-social behaviour on e-bikes.
The DfT also suggests potential insurance requirements for operators including Lime, Forest and Voi, allowing people to claim compensation if they are hit by someone using an e-bike.
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.'
Mayor and operators respond
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that while e-bikes have transformed how people get around the capital, better regulation is needed to ensure they are used safely. He added that he has been calling for powers to better manage dockless e-bike schemes since 2017, when the first schemes arrived in London.
In a statement, e-bike provider Lime said: 'As the UK's largest shared e-bike operator, we're proud to have helped hundreds of thousands of people in the UK become regular cyclists – to the point that "Liming" has become a verb.'
Agustin Guilisasti, Founder and CEO of Forest, said: 'When I founded Forest, it was with the hope of a greener London, built around the people who live and work here.'
The plans are subject to consultation which launched today. Metro has contacted Voi for comment.
