The UK government is preparing a consultation on shared e-bike schemes, aiming to address bikes left across pavements and other concerns including riders jumping red lights. Led by the Department for Transport (DfT), the review will consider national standards for parking, replacing the varied agreements currently made between operators and councils.
Some areas require shared bikes, including those run by Lime, Forest and Voi, to be left in marked bays. In other places, looser rules have led to complaints about obstructed pavements, particularly from wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and people with impaired vision.
The consultation will also examine illegal or antisocial riding, including cycling through red lights and the use of e-bikes by people who are underage or drunk. Other proposals include guidance on fleet sizes to prevent overcrowding, possible insurance requirements for operators, and whether councils and mayors should have a say over rental fees. The government will also consider requiring companies to share data to support enforcement and transport planning.
The DfT says shared e-bikes are becoming more important to urban transport, but the absence of central oversight has created difficulties. The schemes have expanded rapidly since arriving in the UK in 2018, particularly in London. One estimate puts the number of people who used an e-bike share scheme in the year to September 2025 at more than 2.6 million.
The plans would also give local leaders more control over the schemes. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government wanted operators to work with the communities where they run and to help make journeys safer. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the proposals would give communities more influence over parking and ensure companies and riders follow the rules.
In London, separate plans would transfer powers to Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London to bring together rules that currently differ between boroughs. Khan said the growth of dockless e-bikes had brought challenges around safety, parking and access to data, and welcomed the government’s proposed powers for cities.
Sources: The Guardian Business.