GOVERNMENT PLANS FINES FOR DRUNK AND DANGEROUS E-BIKE RIDERS

The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on new rules to tackle anti-social and illegal behaviour on e-bikes, including on-the-spot fines for riders who are drunk, ride dangerously or jump red lights. The proposals would also cover underage riders and those who use e-bikes on pavements. Operators of shared e-bike schemes, including Lime, Forest, Voi, Beryl, Dott and Bolt, would be expected to manage fleets and provide parking. The government is also considering requiring operators to hold insurance so people injured by e-bike riders can claim compensation. Local leaders could be given powers to license schemes and set fees.

E-bikes first appeared in Exeter in 2016, arriving in London a year later and becoming popular for short journeys. The Greater London Authority recorded 37 million dockless e-bike trips in London last year, a third more than the year before. Ministers have described the current approach to e-bike use as a "wild west," citing inconsistent rules that leave streets unsafe for pedestrians, wheelchair users and families with prams. The proposed national standard aims to make journeys safer and keep pavements clear.

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," calling the measures "a small but important everyday fix to make our streets safer." Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he had been "calling for powers to better manage dockless e-bike schemes since 2017." He welcomed the government's plans, adding that cities had been left without the tools they needed for too long. The consultation launched on Thursday and will run for eight weeks before the government drafts legislation.