Road Safety Strategy

Lord Birt Excerpts

Monday 18th December 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Roborough (Con)]

I am afraid that I have not been briefed on that and I shall have to write to the noble Baroness.

[Lord Birt (CB)]

My Lords, one night last week at a complex five-road junction in south London, I encountered e-bikers coming at me from every single direction, all without helmets, some on the pavement and many without lights. Many were running red lights, and many were travelling well in excess of the 15.5 miles per hour limit. E-bikers are turning our city streets into high-risk environments for pedestrians. Is not it time to bring them under a tighter legal framework?

[Lord Roborough (Con)]

My Lords, I think we all share the noble Lord’s concern over e-bikes, but the law is clear that electrically assisted pedal cycles are legal up to 15.5 miles per hour. Beyond that speed, they become motorcycles and are governed as such. It is up to the police to enforce these laws.