Council calls for stronger regulation on illegal e-scooters and e-bikes

Redbridge Council is urging the government and police to take stronger action against the dangerous and illegal use of privately-owned e-scooters and illegally adapted e-bikes, which are increasingly putting lives at risk across the borough.

A motion, debated and approved at Full Council at the end of June calls for:

• Clear national regulation of all e-scooters and e-bikes.
• Increased enforcement by the Metropolitan Police in Redbridge.
• Greater public awareness of the legal status and risks.
• Stronger product safety laws to prevent fire hazards from faulty batteries.

While e-scooters and e-bikes can offer a sustainable alternative to car travel, their misuse—often at high speeds and without safety precautions—has led to serious injuries and fatalities. In 2022, over 1,400 casualties involving e-scooters were recorded in the UK, including 12 deaths.

Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council, said: “We support sustainable transport alternatives, but not at the cost of public safety.

“Illegal e-scooters and illegally adapted e-bikes are too often being driven at high speeds and with disregard for the rules of the road and road safety. This is putting both their drivers and other road users at risk and we need action to ensure these vehicles are used safely and legally.”

The Council is also highlighting the growing fire risk posed by faulty lithium-ion batteries used in e-scooters and e-bikes. In 2023, the London Fire Brigade responded to 143 e-bike fires and 36 e-scooter fires—an average of one incident every two days. One such fire on Hampton Road in Ilford resulted in the hospitalisation of an individual and destroyed part of a house.

Another fire in Woodman Path, Hainault hospitalised three children and three adults. TfL also recently banned non-folding e-bikes on the transport network after a small number of incidents where non-foldable e-bikes caught fire.

Cllr Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, proposed the motion and added: “Illegal e-scooters and e-bikes are a menace on our streets and present a significant danger to public safety. We welcome the Government’s steps to improve product safety and empower local authorities, but more must be done.

“I am therefore pleased that councillors agreed that the government should regulate all e-scooters and e-bikes and legislation should be accompanied by urgent action to address the immediate challenge of dangerous and illegal driving.

“I also want companies to take more responsibility, as many delivery companies for example are incentivising their employees to work faster which is creating further safety issues.”

The Council also supports new powers in the Crime and Policing Bill allowing police to seize and dispose of illegal vehicles within 24 hours and commits to raising awareness on the risks and legalities of e-scooter and e-bike use.