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Forbes
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Rogue And Illegal Ebikes Spark Challenges In UK Cities
Rush-hour cyclists, traffic and pedestrian commuters on Bishopsgate in the City of London, the ... More capital's financial district, on 28th February 2025, in London, England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images) Ebikes are a perfect solution for getting around cities — but rogue designs that aren't legal on UK roads need to be addressed, as do other sources of friction. Because of that, one local councillor has called to bring 'licensing laws out of the 19th century', saying at the Living Streets Walk Summit in Bristol that the demands of the delivery market and a failure to sufficiently crack down on illegal ebikes are leading to dangerous driving. And it's no surprise there are concerns. At the end of February, a pedestrian was hit in West London by an ebike rider in West London — not a rental or sharing scheme, to be clear — and died after a month in hospital. Though the ebikes hurtling around making deliveries, illegally modified bikes causing road chaos, and the rise of ebike sharing schemes are causing friction, this shouldn't be construed as cyclists as a whole being a problem on city roads, where cars wreak much more havoc – and take up more space, too. In the UK, ebikes are legal so long as they don't provide assistance above 15.5mph and are pedal assist, and the motor must only kick in when the rider is pedalling, rather than controlled via a throttle. Of course, if you've been on British city streets, you'll have seen plenty of fat-tire bikes go much faster, when the rider isn't pedalling; those should technically be rated as electric motorbikes and only be ridden on the road with appropriate registration, license and tax, and meet safety rules. Some of those bikes are illegally imported, and others are modified to break the law. A member of the City of London Police Cycle Team takes part in a police operation to confiscate ... More illegally modified ebikes near Bishopsgate Police Station in London. Police seizures of illegally modified electric bikes (e-bikes) soared in the past year amid concerns their speed and weight present a lethal threat to pedestrians, according to Freedom of Information (FoI) figures obtained by the PA news agency. Forces across the UK confiscated 937 e-bikes in the year to August 11. Picture date: Thursday September 12, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images) Police forces have started to crack down on illegal bikes. Last year, the City of London police confiscated 937 dodgy ebikes, up from 511 the year before, including one that was modified to reach 70mph. That had been used by a food delivery worker, according to reports, and it's not clear that he ever actually hit that top speed; the bike was taken by police, and the rider faced no action, according to reports. Delivery companies need to address the use of illegal bikes by riders on their platforms, but such rogue bikes are also used for crime, with police also reporting the use of illegal ebikes and scooters for drug distribution. Dodgy ebikes aren't just a problem in London and the UK, but New York has tried to crack down on the issue too. Ed Plowden, a Green councillor for Bristol, speaking at the Living Streets Walking Summit in Bristol this week, said it's time for action before the issue with ebike delivery drivers gets out of hand. "I do think that we're seeing a new danger, which is for want of a better phrase, 'Uberoo' – and it's a really unlicensed market where people have been pushed to deliver things really, really fast, and we are seeing some really quite risky behavior, which is making all of us less safe," he said. "And I'd like to see a bit more licensing and a bit more regulation of that market, because the people are putting themselves at risk by the way that they're moving around the city, often on personally changed vehicles," he said. "So I think that's something that we really need to drag some of our licensing laws out of the 19th century." He added it goes beyond dodgy ebikes, with issues raised by ebike sharing platforms, including messy pavement parking. 'Some of the tech companeis are making our cities more dangerous for all of us by putting people onto really quite dangerous vehicles that they've adapted themslves and asking them to whizz around really, really fast,' he said. While the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on Bristol roads has improved road safety, he says that casualties from road safety issues have gone back up. 'Some of the electric scooters and soem of the ways that people are forced to move very quickly through our city, delivering things is making our cities less safe for all of us, and we need some better regulation there of the tech bros,' he added. Indeed, beyond delivery ebikes, sharing platforms also continue to spark concerns. One alarming story comes via London Centric, which earlier this year reported on an alarming trend of legs broken when Lime bikes fall on riders after problems braking. Another ongoing challenge is how such "sharing" bikes are left littered on sidewalks, potentially blocking access — it's even tripped up celebrities like Timothee Chalamet. Speakers at the conference noted that pedestrians are supposed to be prioritized on pavements, but admitted that doesn't always happen. Rental bikes are pictured scattered across a pavement on 26th February 2024 in London, United ... More Kingdom. E-bikes left unsafely on pavements present hazards for pedestrians, in particular for disabled and elderly people. (photo by Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images) Plowden added that giving over space encourages better behaviour — suggesting making room for bikes of any sort to be parked would help ease the challenge. But he noted that councils may find it difficult to remove car parking spots to make space for cycle parking because the former is a source of revenue, and the latter is not. It's worth noting that the health benefits of active transport — cycling and walking, essentially — are so high that they may outweigh the safety risks. Professor Scarlett McNally, also speaking at the conference, said "the benefits outweigh the risks by 10 to one." What do the bike companies say? A spokesperson for Forest (formerly known as Human Forest) said that it takes rider and pedestrian safety "extremely seriously" and that it doesn't publish raw incident figures, but that "serious injuries are rare". The company admitted that e-bikes are naturally heavier due to battery and motor, but that the weight is distributed to enhance balance and minimise the risk of tipping. LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 4: A Lime rental e-bike on the pavement in Leadenhall Street on June 4, 2024 ... More in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by) A Lime spokesperson echoed that, noting that share bikes need to be more sturdy and that ebikes are generally heavier than standard bicycles, saying that Lime bikes are about the same weight as other share bikes on London roads. "At Lime, safety is our highest priority," a spokesperson for Lime said in a statement sent to Forbes. It guides how we design and maintain our vehicles, how we develop technology and educational materials to encourage safe riding, and how we work with cities to provide safe riding environments. As part of our London Action Plan, we are increasing our investment in safer riding education to improve the safety of all London cyclists." "In London, 99.9% of trips end without a reported incident, which speaks to the strength of our safety record across millions of journeys," the spokesperson added. "The majority of Lime users are responsible, and incidents of dangerous cycling are rare. When they do occur, we take them seriously and work closely with the police and local authorities to support investigations."
BBC News
21-05-2025
- BBC News
'Pavement surfing' fines issued halved in 10 years
The number of fines given to motorists for driving and parking on footpaths in Guernsey has more than halved over the last decade, according to States figures.A Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by the BBC asked for the number of fixed-penalty notices issued for 'pavement surfing' - the colloquial term for the illegal use of the pavement by drivers on the island's narrow figures showed there were 1,780 penalties issued between 2014 and March 2025 with the number generally declining in that period with 440 fines issued in 2014 compared to 140 in Law Enforcement was asked to comment on the figures. Guernsey's government was also asked for the number of those prosecuted in court and the location where the offences occurred. The States said there were 33 successful prosecutions between 2016 and 2024 - but the list did not include the numbers of those cautioned, those who had their cases withdrawn or those who also committed more serious offences at the same hotspots for all incidents between 2014 and March 2025 included: Havilland Street with 231, Mount Durand with 124 and Rocquettes Lane with 96. Road Safety campaigner Rob Gregson of Living Streets Guernsey believes more should be done to target said he was "absolutely convinced" the issue was "underreported" and called for more ways for road users to report Gregson said this could include a "website where you could easily note your location and what happened to help document problem areas."The police warned islanders earlier this year while "pavement surfing remains a contentious issue in Guernsey, the bottom line is that it is illegal" and could lead to a £65 fine."Cruising along the pavement at speed puts pedestrians at serious risk, and makes exiting a driveway very dangerous," the force said. It stressed "the law only allows exceptions for passing obstructions in the road" and when this occurs manoeuvres must be carried out safely.
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh traffic project could get go-ahead but end up only half finished, residents fear
Residents opposed to a proposed new cycle route which involves narrowing pavements, removing bus lanes and taking away bus stops now fear it will be given the go-ahead but end up only half finished. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The active travel measures planned for the A199 road between Newhaven and Seafield - phase three of the Leith Connections project - are listed among projects which should "proceed" rather than be paused following the council's review of major capital investment schemes. But the report, which will be considered by the transport and environment committee on Thursday, May 22, adds in the notes about the project, known as Hawthornvale to Seafield: "Potential to split into two phases". Salamander Street: extra land is needed to allow for a footpath, cycleway and carriageway wide enough for HGVs. Picture: Google. | Google Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Resident Robert Drysdale says that refers to problems over the acquisition of land needed for completion of the project at the eastern end of the route in Salamander Street. He said: "Salamander Street is basically too narrow to do everything they want to do, so they have to acquire bits of land not in council ownership so they can deliver a footpath, cycleway and have a carriageway that's wide enough for all the heavy traffic that use that stretch. "The plans I've seen, even some parts of the carriageway are not the 7.3 metre width theyr'e supposed to be for HGVs. And Living Streets are concerned some of the footpaths are not the 2 metres wide they are supposed to be. So there are going to be these pinch points even if they do manage to buy the land they need to squeeze it through. 'They say they could do the project in two phases. What they're really admitting is they may have to do it in two phases because the second phase may not be deliverable because of these land ownership issues. Robert Drysdale drew up and alternative plan for the cycle route, using streets in the low traffic neighbourhood. | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "So that could mean we could potentially end up with all the disruption and loss of bus lanes on Commercial Street up to Bernard Street and then the cycle lane just ends because it can't go any further, so it will have been a complete waste of time." Mr Drysdale said it wasn't clear whether agreeing to include the project on the "proceed" list on Thursday would be a final approval for the project - which is costed at between £10m and £30m - or whether there would be further detailed consideration before it went ahead. He said: "It's the sort of thing I can see being nodded through and the next thing you know the Traffic Regulation Orders will go out and before you know it they've got powers to do it and the only thing they don't necessarily have is the money. "If the committee agrees to 'proceed' that leaves the Leth Connections team free to do exactly that." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said the measures might be introduced via Experimental TROs (ETROs) which allow changes to be made during a trial period. But he added: "You can't really experiment when it involves digging up large sections of the road - you have to either do it or not." The project - which covers Lindsay Road, Commercial Street, Bernard Street, Salamander Street and Seafield Road - sparked strong protests from Leith Links community council and Edinburgh Bus Users Group over the removal of bus lanes, narrowing of pavements and relocation of bus stops. And Mr Drysdale drew up an alternative proposed cycle route using the newly quiet roads of the Leith Connections low traffic neighbourhood. He said the removal of through traffic from the roads parallel to the main road created an ideal "bypass" for cyclists with virtually no traffic to worry about. Transport convener Stephen Jenkinson dismissed the idea the council would complete only half of the proposed cycle route. He said: 'No project manager worth their salt would start on phase one of a project without having confidence that phase two is achievable. There's no point in doing half a job.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said the Hawthornvale to Seafield plans were still at design phase. But he continued: 'If there's land that's required to be purchased to complete it, there would have to be confidence that that was going to be successful before starting the initial phases of the project.'
South Wales Argus
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Parents can win scooter by sharing school run stories
The competition is part of Walk to School Week, which is taking place from May 19 to 23. The yearly initiative is aimed at getting more children and their families walking and taking part in exercise as they head to school. The campaign is organised by Living Streets, which is the UK charity for everyday walking. Micro Scooters is sponsoring the campaign and giving away 10 scooters and helmet sets to those who tell the best stories of their walk to school. Ben Gibson, managing director at Micro Scooters UK, said: "Swapping one car journey for a scoot to school might seem like a small thing, but it has a big ripple effect. "Fewer cars, cleaner air, and happier, more active kids. "We're proud to support Walk to School Week and to help families build healthier habits." The winners will be announced by email on May 26. To enter the competition people should visit the Living Streets website.
Edinburgh Reporter
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
A peaceful protest on Ashley Terrace – but with a serious message
On Wednesday evening locals took to the streets in a peaceful protest drawing attention to the amount of traffic, the speed of the traffic and the lack of pedestrian crossings. An 80-year-old woman was seriously injured at the junction of Ashley Terrace on 28 April. Cllr Christopher Cowdy said to The Edinburgh Reporter: 'The biggest problem is lack of resources in the council. So when I came here in 2022 there was already a pedestrian crossing programme. There were hundreds of crossings being promised. But within a year, when I was on the Transport Committee that had already run over two years late, because they had bitten off more than they could chew, they said, and they were lacking in resources. 'So I know that the city council is short of money, and it's running on a budget deficit about £50 million a year, and trying and trying to make that up, and trying to get the resources to provide all of the crossings for all of the schools across the entire city is very difficult.' David Hunter of Living Streets said: 'I think it's fantastic to see. I think pedestrians often don't kick up as much of a fuss as maybe other groups do, so it's great to see it mobilised. 'There must be quite a strength of feeling to have this amount of support. 'But of course there has been a really serious injury to an old lady here. You can see the speed, some of this traffic's going at. I think we really need a strategy for the whole city. I would like to see more money going into these kind of routine improvements, particularly around schools, and I think it would get a lot of public support.' Despite the council promising crossings three years ago nothing has happened, although Cllr Stephen Jenkinson the Transport Convener has said that 'Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, Transport and Environment 'pedestrian safety across the city is a priority' He said: 'I fully understand the safety concerns raised by the community in relation to the junction at Ashley Terrace and Harrison Gardens, particularly given the recent road traffic accident which took place there. 'As outlined in the Road Safety Delivery Plan, there are plans in place for two footpath build-outs on Ashley Terrace. Unfortunately, we have experienced some delays due to necessary design revisions and coordination with other services. 'In relation to Ashley Terrace, the installation of a build-out directly in front of the school entrance requires the relocation of a nearby bin hub. This is being progressed through a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) by the Waste team, and we are awaiting further updates from them.' Like this: Like Related
