E-bikes banned on London public transport after unsafe mods cause fires

All full-size electrical bikes are present banned connected astir of London’s nationalist transport. | Image: Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that each non-folding e-bikes volition beryllium banned from the bulk of London’s nationalist transport network. The prohibition has been driven by the occurrence hazard from regular bikes converted into e-bikes utilizing DIY kits, but extends to purpose-built e-bikes excessively successful the sanction of easier enforcement.

The caller prohibition comes into effect connected March 31st, and applies to the London Underground, Overground, Elizabeth Line, and DLR. The lone e-bikes that volition beryllium permitted connected those services are folding e-bikes, which TfL says are little apt to person been converted into e-bikes utilizing mod kits. That exemption volition beryllium a boon for Brompton and Gocycle, 2 London-based companies that absorption connected foldable models.

TfL says that “cycles that person been adapted utilizing physics conversion kits airs a greater occurrence hazard than purpose-built e-bikes,” but that “it tin beryllium hard to differentiate” modified bikes from different models. The enactment adds that the prohibition is indispensable “until improved merchandise information measures are successful place” for conversion kits, batteries, and chargers.

The prohibition follows respective fires connected nationalist transport linked to e-bikes, including 1 that burst into flames connected the platform astatine westbound London’s Rayners Lane station. Following that incident, the bid drivers’ national ASLEF threatened a onslaught if information measures weren’t implemented, which was backed by the abstracted RMT and TSSA transport unions. E-scooters person been banned crossed the network since 2021.

“While we recognise the sustainable benefits e-bikes, and micromobility generally, bring to our city, the world is that crossed London we have been seeing an e-bike oregon e-scooter fire every different day, connected average, and we person peculiar interest astir the hazard posed by conversion kits oregon modified e-bikes,” London Fire Brigade lawman commissioner Charlie Pugsley says. “When these fires occur, they tin be sudden, incredibly ferocious and produce smoke that is extremely toxic.”

Full-size bikes — physics oregon different — are already not permitted connected London’s autobus and tram services, and are lone allowed connected certain parts of the Underground web astatine definite times, with a broad prohibition during unreserved hour. Once the electrical motorcycle prohibition comes into effect, non-folding e-bikes volition lone beryllium permitted connected the Woolwich Ferry, definite stream and manager services, and the dedicated Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle, which opens connected April 7th.