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Meg's Hackney Gazette Column: Making e-Bikes Work For All


Hackney is a proud cycling borough and the latest addition to our cycling heritage is the dockless e-bikes for hire from Lime.


I have been overwhelmed by concerns from residents worried about their safety because of the reckless use of these bikes.


Many of us are familiar with the clicking noise that indicates that a bike has been overridden by someone not registered as a user. Some users are also cycling on the pavements.  


The minority of riders who misuse these bikes are causing problems for the majority who use them safely. While the widespread use of electric bikes is a welcome step in helping us all get around in an environmentally friendly and healthy way, it must work for everyone. 


I recently brought the Lime Bikes team to Hackney to see for themselves these issues in and around London Fields. I pressed them on how they plan to tackle these concerns.

 

To combat the bikes dumped on pavements Lime is working with Hackney Council to install 600 new dedicated parking bays in Hackney by the end of next year. I also pressed for enforcement on cyclists who speed or who cycle on pavements.


Lime explained that if a witness reports the time and location of where they see a cyclist acting recklessly they can bar the user from using Lime in future. You can alert Lime directly by emailing support@li.me, and I urge anyone witnessing inappropriate behaviour to do so. The contract in Hackney will be up for renewal and it’s important that Lime and the council have information about these issues. 


The problems with electric bikes extend well beyond Hackney. I’ve been pushing this issue with MPs across London – working together so we can hold electric bike companies accountable for their users and to press for better cycling safety. I’ve also lobbied London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman to look at this London-wide. And nationally, I’m working with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking to raise wider issues about the regulation of e-bikes and batteries. 


Our public realm has to work for everyone. We all want Hackney to be a safe place to walk and cycle. Better regulation and enforcement of e-bikes has to be part of the mix. 

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