Drunk e-bike riders in London may face harsher penalties under new measures to combat anti-social behavior.
Councils in the capital are set to gain new controls to fine boozy bikers as part of a wider crackdown on what has been called the ‘wild west’ use and parking of e-bikes across the city.
Images and videos of poorly parked e-bikes and users crossing red lights have flooded social media as their popularity rose.
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.’
The proposals, set out by the Department for Transport (DfT), look to establish a national standard for e-bikes to make journeys safer and pavements clearer for everyone.
They would include giving law enforcement bodies the ability to issue fines for illegal and anti-social behavior 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.
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.
‘I’ve been calling for powers to better manage dockless e-bike schemes since 2017, when the first schemes arrived in London, so I welcome the government’s plans to give cities the powers they need to do this,’ he said.
He added the current approach is not working and cities have been left without the tools they needed to manage the rise in e-bike for too long.
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The plans are subject to consultation which launched today.
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.
‘Millions of people now choose Lime to get to work, meet friends, run errands, and more, making travel in cities across the UK easier, more affordable and less dependent on cars.
‘Lime’s unmatched experience in working with cities to build and grow UK e-bike schemes means we know what it takes to make shared cycling work at scale. It’s why we recognize the current patchwork approach is confusing for riders, councils, and operators, all of whom deserve greater clarity and certainty.
‘Today’s consultation is an important step forward. We look forward to working with Government and local authorities to help deliver schemes that work for riders, operators, and everyone in the communities we serve, all for a greener and more connected UK.’
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.
‘To see London becoming a cycling city is something to celebrate. But to achieve this, we need national standards, and a coherent, well-regulated, London-wide system – better for riders and, importantly, better for pedestrians and the city.
‘With around 350,000 shared e-bike trips taken every day in London, this is a real opportunity to work with government and local leaders to make cycling an easy, everyday choice.
‘That means enough bikes in the right places and enough parking, so people can arrive easily and park responsibly – for calmer streets, cleaner air and a city that moves.’
Metro has contacted Voi for comment.