Drunk e-bike riders could be fined under proposed crackdown

E-bikes are a popular mode of transport around the capital (Picture: Getty Images) Drunk e-bike riders in London may face harsher penalties under new measures to combat anti-social behaviour. Councils in the capital are set to gain new controls to fine boozy bikers as part of a wider crackdown on what has been called the ‘wild west’ use and parking of e-bikes across the city. Images and videos of poorly parked e-bikes and users crossing red lights have flooded social media as their popularity rose. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: ‘E-bikes can make getting around that bit easier, but when they block pavements or are used irresponsibly they can be a real frustration. ‘I want to sort that by giving communities more control over where they are parked and making sure companies and riders play by the rules. ‘While making the big, long-term changes to make transport better and more affordable for people across the country, this is a small but important everyday fix to make our streets safer.’ E-bikes are a great way to get around, but it’s important to be safe (Picture: Getty Images) The proposals, set out by the Department for Transport (DfT), look to establish a national standard for e-bikes to make journeys safer and pavements clearer for everyone. They would include giving law enforcement bodies the ability to issue fines for illegal and anti-social behaviour on e-bikes. The DfT also suggests potential insurance requirements for operators including Lime, Forest and Voi, allowing people to claim compensation if they are hit by someone using an e-bike. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that while e-bikes have transformed how people get around the capital, better regulation is needed to ensure they are used safely. ‘I’ve been calling for powers to better manage dockless e-bike schemes since 2017, when the first schemes arrived in London, so I welcome the government’s plans to give cities the powers they need to do this,’ he said. He added the current…