E-bikes and e-scooters could face greater regulation across the UK as local councils and police forces raise concerns about the rising safety risks.
The move comes as the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner has urged the new Labour Government to introduce clearer legislation
Meanwhile, Norwich residents have reported e-bike riders causing havoc in the city centre while Brent Council has gone so far as to threaten to ban provider Lime from its borough.
From tragic collisions to pavement obstruction, the concerns span various regions, prompting calls for stronger laws and comprehensive educational initiatives.
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The Department for Transport recorded 1,269 collisions involving e-scooters last yearPALancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, has taken action by writing to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, urging the Government to strengthen laws on e-bikes and e-scooters.
The letter said: “The illegal use of bikes, quads and e-scooters is the top issue that members of the public raise with me every day. Its endemic and the police need more powers to deal with it.
“This issue highlights what I’ve always said – that Government legislation needs to be based on the unique community needs faced by individual areas, to deliver policing that best serves the public and keeps them safe.
“It’s only by focusing how laws are enacted on the needs of different areas, that we will best deliver what residents want to see, more bobbies on the beat and investment in neighbourhood policing.”
The Commissioner also suggested additional powers for police and local authorities to tackle hotspot areas more effectively. He stressed that while local efforts like Operation Centurion are crucial, the ultimate solution lies in legislative change.
In Norwich, residents have reported e-bike riders causing chaos in the city centre. One person witnessed an e-bike rider travelling at approximately 40mph, knocking over a woman in her 60s.
Green Party councillor Jamie Osborn noted that the main issue is with electric motorbikes rather than e-bikes. He called for better regulation of delivery companies and their riders.
However, a Norwich City Council spokesman clarified that local authorities lack the power to implement new laws regarding e-bike riders, stating that such regulations must come from central Government.
Brent Council has given Lime until October 31 to remove its dockless e-bikes from the borough if improvements are not made. Despite supporting sustainable travel, the council highlighted significant safety issues, particularly the increasing number of bikes abandoned on pavements.
Councillor Muhammed Butt said: "Lime bikes left scattered across our streets are causing havoc for other road users, especially for pedestrians and disabled people."
The council has proposed changes, including dedicated e-bike parking bays and a no-parking zone across the borough. They have also requested that Lime increase penalties for users who incorrectly park their e-bikes, as the current £10 fine is deemed insufficient.
From Lancashire to Norwich and London, local authorities and police forces are grappling with safety issues and anti-social behaviour linked to these vehicles.
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E-bikes are banned from the TFL networkGETTYWhile some councils, like Brent, are taking direct action against providers, others are calling for national legislation to address the problem effectively. The challenges range from speeding riders and pavement obstruction to the need for clearer identification measures.
A Lime spokesperson told GB News: "We are proud to have run a successful shared e-bike service in Brent for the last six years, with tens of thousands of local residents now using Lime to make essential journeys in the borough.
"We understand the critical importance of maintaining a safe service and avoiding pavement obstructions and are committed to working with the council to deliver the required improvements to extend our operations here.
"We need these locations in order to maintain a tidy and easy-to-use service that can continue to contribute to the council’s active travel goals. We can support this process by providing trip data and infrastructure funding."