Government Proposes National Crackdown to End "Wild West" of Shared E-Bikes

The UK government launched a nationwide consultation on Thursday aimed at curbing the "wild west" of shared e-bike operations, proposing strict new powers for local leaders to fine irresponsible riders and eliminate nuisance street parking.

The initiative targets anti-social and dangerous behaviors such as riding on footpaths, running red lights, riding under the influence of alcohol, or underage use by introducing on-the-spot fines and clearer penalties. Additionally, the Department for Transport is considering national requirements for operators to hold liability insurance, allowing pedestrians to seek compensation if hit by a rental e-bike.

The rapid growth of shared rental schemes operated by firms like Lime, Voi, Forest, Beryl, Dott, and Bolt has seen usage soar, with London recording 37 million dockless e-bike trips last year alone. However, the lack of centralized oversight has created a confusing patchwork of local rules, leaving many pavements cluttered and dangerous for pedestrians, particularly wheelchair users, parents with prams, and people with visual impairments.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the proposals as a vital step toward improving daily street safety:

“E-bikes can make getting around that bit easier, but when they block pavements or are used irresponsibly, they can be a real frustration. I want to sort that by giving communities more control over where they are parked and making sure companies and riders play by the rules. While making the big, long-term changes to make transport better and more affordable for people across the country, this is a small but important everyday fix to make our streets safer.”

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized the balance between encouraging active travel and protecting local communities:

“Shared e-bike schemes have revolutionised the way people travel around our towns and cities. They are easy to use, get us active and help reduce emissions, but we need to make sure they work with the communities where they operate. That’s why we are taking decisive action to give local leaders the power to stop nuisance parking, tackle antisocial behaviour and make journeys safer.”

Under the proposed framework, local authorities will gain direct licensing powers over shared cycle operators. Councils will be able to mandate specific parking plans, set fleet size limits to prevent street overcrowding, enforce vehicle maintenance standards, and require operators to share live data to assist with transport planning and enforcement.

In London, the Department for Transport is coordinating with Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) to centralize e-bike oversight across the capital, replacing conflicting borough-by-borough rules.

Welcoming the national consultation, Mayor Sadiq Khan said:

“The ‘wild west’ approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue. While these services are helping thousands more Londoners to cycle, their rapid growth has also brought challenges around safety, inconsiderate parking and the lack of data needed to properly manage them.”

“I’ve been calling for powers to better manage dockless e-bike schemes since 2017, when the first schemes arrived in London, so I welcome the government’s plans to give cities the powers they need to do this. For too long, cities have been left without the tools needed to properly manage these services, despite clear evidence that the current approach is not working.”

“I’m pleased to see the Department for Transport setting clear standards and empowering local leaders to better support vital growth in sustainable travel so we can keep building a safer, fairer, greener London for everyone.”

Accessibility advocates strongly supported the proposed measures, highlighting how abandoned bikes create severe hazards for vulnerable pedestrians.

Mike Wordingham, Head of Policy at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), noted the severity of the issue:

“Dockless e-bikes are heavy, fast, silent and unpredictable. An astonishing 92% of blind and partially sighted people tell us they have had to walk into the road due to street obstacles such as e-bikes.”

“We are glad the government is recognising this issue and putting forward plans to tackle it. But tackling rider behaviour will be difficult, and it’s vital the desire for local flexibility doesn’t lead to a patchwork of regulations and inconsistency in implementing them. Everyone deserves to feel safe.”

Eleanor Briggs, Head of Policy at Guide Dogs, added:

“We welcome the government’s consultation on introducing national standards for shared e-bike schemes, giving local authorities much-needed powers to tackle dangerous parking and unsafe use. For people with sight loss, badly parked rental e-bikes are a barrier to independent travel, blocking pavements, creating unexpected obstacles and making it harder to navigate safely.”

Major rental operators also welcomed the move toward unified national standards, noting that clear regulations benefit both businesses and riders:

• Wayne Ting, CEO of Lime: Recognized that "the current patchwork approach is confusing for riders, councils and operators, all of whom deserve greater clarity and certainty", adding that the consultation represents an "important step forward" for sustainable urban transport.
• Agustin Guilisasti, CEO of Forest: Stated that "we need national standards and a coherent, well-regulated, London-wide system – better for riders and, importantly, better for pedestrians and the city."
• Georgia Heathman, Public Policy Manager at Bolt: Highlighted that "98% of Bolt rides already end with a correctly parked bike", supporting consistent national standards to raise the bar nationwide.

The consultation forms part of a broader £4.5 billion government investment in active travel over the next five years, aiming to help more than half of all urban commuters walk or cycle for short everyday journeys.