Pedestrian left hospitalised after electric bike collision as Lords blast 'frustrating' riders

Labour has been urged to crack down on dangerous electric bike and scooter use after concerns were raised about serious injuries, illegal riding and public safety.

The issue was raised in the House of Lords, where ministers faced questions about the increasing use of electric bikes and scooters on UK roads and pavements.

Transport minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill said the Government recognised that electric bikes and scooters could help boost economic growth, improve health and cut emissions.

He told peers that e-scooters are currently being tested through shared rental trials to assess their benefits and safety, while private devices remain illegal for use on public roads.

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Labour is expected to launch a consultation on future e-scooter rules in the coming months.

However, concerns were raised after Liberal Democrat peer Lord Storey highlighted the case of Sandy Peters, who suffered serious injuries when she was struck by a hire bike in south London.

He said Ms Peters was walking with her son on his birthday when a rented bike hit her at full speed. "Her face went into a brick wall," Lord Storey said.

Lord Storey added that she spent seven days in hospital and faces around £10,000 in dental surgery costs. He noted that the rider was only 16 years old and should not have been able to hire the bike.

Lord Hendy added that the Government now has powers to introduce insurance requirements for bike hire schemes and will consult on possible changes.

Crossbench peer Lord Krebs warned that e-bikes and e-scooters are often dumped on footpaths, causing problems for parents with pushchairs, elderly people and those with sight loss.

He noted that Kensington and Chelsea Council had removed more than 2,500 illegally parked e-bikes and e-scooters in the past 18 months and charged operators £210,000.

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Concerns were also raised about riders ignoring traffic lights and travelling at excessive speeds.

Labour peer Lord Shamash said: "Being stationary at a red traffic light and being overtaken by bikes that do not pay the slightest heed to the traffic signals is really frustrating to watch."

Lord Hendy reminded the House that legal e-bikes are restricted to a maximum assisted speed of 15.5mph and must meet strict regulations.

He warned that more powerful bikes are classed as motor vehicles and require registration, insurance and a driving licence. The minister also pointed to increasing police enforcement against illegal bikes.

He said forces across the country were taking action because riders using illegal e-bikes often commit other offences.

Conservative peer Lord Young of Cookham backed legal e-bikes but warned that irresponsible riders were damaging their reputation. "The City of London Police confiscates and destroys five illegal e-bikes every week," he said.

Lord Hendy revealed that police forces are stepping up enforcement nationwide, with the Metropolitan Police seizing 2,741 illegal e-bikes and mopeds last year, while hundreds more have been seized by forces in Merseyside, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire.

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