TFL e-bike ban

[classic33]

Just been looking things up

Some of the mobility scooters have the same battery chemistry

and use bigger batteries

but are not likely to have been "modified" or come from cheap Chinese places
same as folding bikes I suppose

Bus/train companies have a pass requirement for mobility scooters.

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/travel/mobility-scooters

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/mobility-scooters-code

 

[Jenkins]

But that's not what they've done and it'd be even easier to ban all lithium batteries over a size, which would reduce fire risk further.

How do you tell what size (power/capacity) a battery is just by looking at it?
And don't say they have to have a sticker showing the power output or capacity because, as already noted, it's simple just to get a 'legal' sticker on Ebay.

...
How is this any different to the person whose e-bike is deemed a fire risk? If left unchallenged, they could lock it up at the departure station (note that they announced a travel ban, not a ban on parking at TfL stations, which seems absurd when both fires mentioned were both on platforms not trains) where it can catch fire unobserved by its owner (one of the fire alarms was raised by the owner... not sure about the other).

Which is more dangerous - a fire on an ebike in the open air on a platform or a fire on an ebike in an enclosed train? Theo one at Rayners Lane happened just as the owner was waiting to board a train.

Edit - just seen these points have already been made by others.

 

[TomDW]

A bit of background to this policy that people discussing should know: The TFL Cycle Policy.
There are already loads of cycle restrictions to summarise. I rarely see bikes on services I use, it's mostly evenings on the Overground if at all. This is not going to stop most people getting to work as they're banned around commuting times.

 

[T4tomo]

There was a fire at Luton airport parking. Destroyed the multi story. All cars are going to be banned from car parks.

Should ban Tesla's from LeShuttle!

 

[Brandane]

Should ban Tesla's from LeShuttle!

And ALL ferries.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Should ban Tesla's from LeShuttle!

The Luton fire started when a diesel powered vehicle caught fire. Imagine the frustration of the " usual suspects " that it didn't start in an electric vehicle. ( having said that, they'd probably find a way to weave their agenda into the narrative )

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The Luton fire started when a diesel powered vehicle caught fire

That’s a cover up by he who must not be named.

 

[mjr]

The updated https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-conditions-of-carriage.pdf has been published at last. The new rule is a bit strange:

9.6 You cannot take a non-folding electric bicycle, an electric scooter or electric unicycle on our bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and London Cable Car services. Non-folding electric bicycles cannot be taken beyond the gateline at any of our rail stations.

So, they have addressed the fire problem that has really happened, by banning e-bikes from platforms, but for some reason, electric scooters and unicycles (those hoverwheel things) are still allowed onto platforms even though they can't be taken on services. That's odd.

TfL's rule includes "London Overground, Elizabeth line" but those are both subject to the National Rail Conditions of Travel, and that hasn't been updated, so e-bikes are still not listed as "Items only permitted at the discretion of individual Train Companies" or "Items that are not permitted to be carried on passenger trains" and there is no mention of any restrictions on e-bikes on https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/cyclists so those routes might get challenged early on.

Cycling charity "Wheels for Wellbeing" has called on TfL to extend its existing mobility aid permit scheme to e-bikes. TfL Non-Folding e-Bike Ban On Public Transport: WfW Position Statement – https://wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/t...n-on-public-transport-wfw-position-statement/

TfL still haven't published their "comprehensive" review so we don't know whether they even considered any of the above before suddenly changing their rules and hindering e-bike users.