The key facts
- A consultation on national standards for shared e-bikes was launched on Thursday
- On-the-spot fines are proposed for drunk riding, running red lights and riding on pavements
- In London, 37 million dockless e-bike trips were made last year — a third more than the year before
The biggest overhaul of rules for rental e-bikes
The UK government on Thursday launched a consultation on national standards for rental e-bikes, calling the current situation the According to BBC News, the proposals would cover drunk and dangerous riders as well as those running red lights: they could face on-the-spot fines without going to court.
What exactly is being proposed
Operators of shared schemes — Lime, Voi, Beryl, Dott, Forest and Bolt — will have to manage their fleets better and provide designated parking zones to keep pavements clear, especially for wheelchair users and families with prams. An insurance requirement is also being considered, so that people injured by rental bike collisions could receive compensation. Local authorities will get the power to license schemes in their areas: set minimum standards, require a parking plan, manage fleet sizes and operating zones, and possibly impose fees and require operators to share data for oversight and route planning. The consultation is also looking for ways to prevent drunk riding, riding by minors and riding on pavements, with
The scale of the problem and the reaction
The first rental e-bikes appeared in Exeter in 2016, and in London a year later; since then they have become a popular way to commute. According to the Greater London Authority, 37 million trips were made on dockless e-bikes last year — a third more than the year before. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham called the measures
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