Some e-bikes to be banned in the London subway after the station
Everything not folded e-bike It will be prohibited on parts of the London transport network from the end of the month to guarantee the safety of customers and staff, Transport for London He announced.
TFL will become the first transport operator in the United Kingdom to enforce a ban on its services, which will come into force on March 31st.
Everything not folded e-bikeIncluding the standard cycles that have been converted into e-bikes using conversion kit, they will no longer be authorized to travel on most TFL services, also on the tube, overground, Elizabeth Line and DLR.
The announcement comes after a “small number of accidents” in which unconvited e-bikes have been captured fire On the transport system in London.
An e-bike caught fire on a metro station platform in Rayners Lane, in the north-west of London, in February, which brought the suspension of the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines. The fire was put out within 30 minutes from London Fire Brigade Brigade.
Transport union AlongsideThe union of trains drivers, He asked for the e-bike ban on the subway after the fire on Rayners Lanethreatening to hit the matter.
The operator said he had worked closely with the London firefighters and other partners to carry out a “complete review of the safety of e-bike and their suitability for transporting the TFL transport network. “
They added that cycles adapted with electronic conversion kit represent a greater risk of fire than specifically built e-bikes, but it may be difficult to distinguish between modified and unrealized e-bikes.
“Until there are product safety measures improved for cycles, batteries and converted chargers, a ban is needed for all unaired e-bikes. TFL and LFB continue to work Government To look for better product safety for electronic cycles.
“TFL is not aware of any folding e-bean fire relationship in London and there are less opportunities for folding cycles to be converted into e-bike using conversion kit, due to their shape, size and specific mechanical constraints.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq KhanHe expressed his concern about the number of accidents in which unconvected e-bikes had caught fire.
“The security of Londonse It is my maximum priority and, although most of the e-bike bikes are safe, there have been a small number of accidents in which unbalanced e-bikes caught fire on the transport system, which caused me great concern.
“This is the reason why, following a complete revision of e-bike safety, TFL is forbidding all the e-bikes not folding on metie and railway services. I asked TFL to continue working with the government and partners to improve e-bike security while we build a safer London for everyone.”
The main officer of TFL security, health and environment, Lilli Matson, said that the priority has remained the safety of customers and colleagues, adding: “This safety ban will play a vital role in maintaining our safe transport system for everyone and we continue to work with the government partners and in addition to improving e-bike security”.
The deputy commissioner for the prevention, protection and policy of London of the Fire Brigade, Charlie Pugsley, said that the move was accepted by the service, due to the risk that e-biche batteries can pose.
“While recognizing the sustainable e-bike benefits and micromobility in general, we bring to our city, the reality is that in all of London we have seen an e-bike or e-scooter fire on average days, on average, and we have particular concern for the risk posed by the modified conversion or bike kits. When fires occur, they can be sudden, incredibly fierce and produce smoke that is extremely toxic.
Non-folding bikes are not currently allowed on buses and trams, nor e-bikes are allowed on the IFS cloud cup. The non-fucking e-bikes will continue to be authorized on the woolwich ferry, on the river services (subject to operator), on coach services (subject to operator) and on the shuttle service of the Silvertoown tunnel cycle when it opens on April 7.
TFL clarified that these changes were in the revision phase, pending future measures to improve the safety of the product by the government, due to the importance of e-bikes and micro-motor in the city.
