DfT Launches Consultation on New E-Bike Regulations
Proposed rules target anti-social behaviour and parking issues, with calls for unified London oversight.
Sarah Connor
The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on new rules for shared e-bike schemes.
Parallel efforts are underway to devolve power to the Mayor of London and Transport for London. This aims to unify e-bike regulations within the city and create a consistent framework.
The Transport Secretary works directly with the mayor and TfL to grant the latter powers. This allows them to oversee and enforce rules throughout London.
Heidi Alexander stated, "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."
The government claims individuals riding e-bikes while drunk or dangerously, and those who disregard red lights, could face on-the-spot fines. Shared e-bike schemes will manage their fleets more effectively and provide designated parking areas.
Measures could require operators to have a parking plan and to manage fleet sizes and operating areas. Firms might also secure insurance, allowing individuals to claim compensation if struck by someone on a shared bike.
Local leaders will license schemes in their areas. This enables them to enforce minimum standards and better integrate e-bikes into existing transport networks.
The government also consults on whether local leaders should have additional powers, including setting fees and requiring operators to share data.
Andy Burnham claims that while e-bikes could simplify travel, they could also become a "real frustration" when they obstructed pavements or were used "irresponsibly." Footage of cyclists speeding along pavements and swerving around pedestrians has circulated on social media in recent weeks.
A real frustration.
More than 2.6 million Britons used an e-bike share scheme in the year to September 2025. Badly parked cycles left strewn across pavements have been a persistent source of frustration for Londoners since hire bike schemes were introduced in 2017.
E-bike operators have previously called for clearer rules on how and where they can operate in the capital. They seek an end to the fragmented, borough-by-borough patchwork of regulations.