'Wild west' e-bike parking targeted - with possibility of locally set fees

The government is seeking to end "wild west" e-bike parking and crack down on antisocial behaviour, such as riding on pavements.

A consultation launched on Thursday will set out proposed new national standards and powers for local leaders to keep pavements clear and make journeys safer.

More radical options are also being explored, such as allowing local leaders to set fees and insurance requirements for operators.

Shared e-bikes, such as Lime, Voi, Beryl, Dott, Forest and Bolt, are an increasingly popular way to get around, with dockless e-bikes first arriving in the UK in 2018.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said while e-bikes can make getting around easier, they can be "a real frustration" when they block pavements or are used irresponsibly.

Proposed measures include a parking and fleet management plan, setting out fleet sizes and operating areas to prevent overcrowding on pavements.

Action for antisocial and illegal behaviour is also being planned to prevent users from riding shared cycles drunk, underage, or on pavements.

The government also plans to set out clear consequences for those breaking these rules, such as fines.

Operators could also face requirements to share data with local authorities to improve enforcement and journey planning.

Insurance requirements for operators that would allow people to claim compensation if hit by someone on a shared cycle are also a possibility.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said shared e-bike schemes had "revolutionised" how people travel in towns and cities.

However, she stressed the need to "make sure they work with, not against, the communities where they operate".

Agustin Guilisasti, founder and CEO of Forest, a London-based shared e-bike firm, said the city needed national standards and a coherent, well-regulated system.

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The government hopes the plans will provide greater certainty on where and how cycle schemes run, putting an end to the patchwork of rules for operating in different areas.

Eleanor Briggs, head of policy, public affairs and campaigns at Guide Dogs, welcomed the consultation.

"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," she said.

She added that the charity "frequently hears from people with a vision impairment about irresponsible and antisocial use of e-bikes on pavements, putting pedestrians at risk".

(c) Sky News 2026: 'Wild west' e-bike parking targeted - with possibility of locally set fees