CDRA, together with the Royal Borough of Kingston (RBK) South of the Borough Community Police Ward Panel and the South of the Borough Safer Neighbourhood Team, has been raising concerns about the increasing use of e-bikes and e-scooters and the impact they can have on public safety and antisocial behaviour.
The South of the Borough Community Police Ward Panel has been in correspondence with Ruth Cadbury MP, Chair of the House of Commons Transport Committee, advocating for stronger regulation of powered two-wheeled vehicles. The panel has argued that any bicycle powered by a motor, regardless of its power output or maximum speed, should be subject to regulations similar to those that apply to mopeds. This would include requirements for registration, insurance, taxation, appropriate lighting and the wearing of helmets.
The principle is not entirely new. Many residents will remember the small petrol-engine conversion kits that could once be fitted to bicycles and were subject to legal restrictions.
More recently, Helen Maguire MP, Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell, highlighted the issue during an appearance on BBC Breakfast while discussing Surrey Police’s Operation Scramble, an initiative aimed at tackling the misuse of e-bikes and e-scooters.
Petition: e-scooter and e-bike consultation
Helen Maguire MP is currently gathering support through a petition calling on the Government to review and update existing legislation governing e-scooters and e-bikes. Supporters of the petition believe that current regulations do not adequately address the safety concerns associated with these vehicles, particularly illegally modified models capable of speeds and performance far beyond those originally intended.
Residents wishing to learn more can read about the issue and support the campaign through the links below: