From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling


rCLThe legislation doesnrCOt coperCY: Calls for e-bike hire law changes as Lime bike-related injury claims surge in London

A leading cycling injury lawyer tells ebiketips rCLitrCOs inevitablerCY that some Lime bikes will be defective but doesnrCOt rCLknow if itrCOs more sinisterrCY

by CALLUM DEVEREUX
UPDATED TUE, MAR 10, 2026 15:44

A leading lawyer representing clients injured by electric hire bikes in
London says rCLthe law doesnrCOt do a good enough jobrCY of protecting everyone who uses or interacts with them.

E-bikes have rapidly become a familiar sight on UK roads, with hire schemes such as Lime Bikes, and Forest Bikes, making cycling more accessible.
However, these heavier, faster bikes have also led to a rise in serious collisions involving both riders and pedestrians.

Last year, a report by London Centric suggested that one in 10 Lime bikes
may have dangerous mechanical issues, including in some cases
malfunctioning brakes. While that report was fairly limited in that it only examined 50 e-bikes to come to the conclusion that 12 per cent should not
be in use, the injury claims against Lime have once again brought the discussion around maintenance of hire bikes into the spotlight.

[linked article] rCLI see at least one patient a weekrCY: Doctor claims surge in rCyLime bike legrCO injuries linked to tourists and inexperienced riders

Sam Collard, partner at Osbornes Law and lead solicitor for cycling
accidents, told ebiketips that last yearrCOs reporting led to a surge in
injury enquiries to an unprecedented level that has sustained. Osbornes Law previously told The Standard that they were being approached by around 10
Lime bike cyclists a month, with roughly two of those cases severe enough
to be taken on.

rCLThere are a hell of a lot of Lime bikes,rCY Osborne says. rCLItrCOs inevitable
that some will be defective, but I donrCOt know if thererCOs something more sinister.

[linked article] Cyclists injured in crashes caused by rCLfaultyrCY Lime bikes that rCLfell apartrCY file 12 compensation claims

rCLWerCOve had cases of defects, one client had his seat fall off mid-ride. Wheels have locked, brakes donrCOt work. I know from these stories that Lime insist they maintain their fleet. [Defects] might be inevitable due to the
size of the fleet, or a faulty inspection regime.rCY

rCL[The injuries] are a combination of the heavy weight of Lime compared to non-electric standard bikes, and then anyone can hire them, theyrCOre not
used to them. A relatively low speed accident where the bike lands on top
of you is causing quite nasty injuries and broken limbs in some cases.rCY

However, whilst Collard suggested there could be shortcomings in the duty
of care provided by the hire bike providers, the safety risks are being exacerbated by out-of-date legislation governing e-bike provisions. Last
month, Transport for London announced new regulations aimed at tightening
the rules around pedal cabs. This included each cab driver passing a safety test, and holding at least a driving theory test certificate. A new
licensing system was also introduced coupled with fare caps.

Collard suggests that new legislation could codify a duty of care or
certain safety precautions, identifying that whilst Lime offer third-party insurance to all e-bike users, other providers donrCOt.

rCLE-bikes are very new, the legislation we have doesnrCOt cope with them. You donrCOt need a special license or training but theyrCOre very different and more powerful than normal bikes. We need more rules and legislation to
provide better protection to both riders and other road users (other
cyclists and pedestrians).

rCLWerCOre also seeing a surge in cases of pedestrians being hit by electric hire bikes and the law doesnrCOt do a good enough job of dealing with these cases.rCY

[linked article] rCLAll they did was give me a -u6.99 refundrCY: Cyclist suing Lime over e-bike horror crash which rCLsnapped his leg like a twigrCY says itrCOs
rCLonly a matter of time before someone diesrCY

A Lime spokesperson previously told The Standard they rCLare saddened to hear about these incidents and our thoughts are with those impacted. Safety
informs everything we do at Lime rCo from how we design and maintain our vehicles, to our rider education, and how we work with cities.

Osbornes Law are also the legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign, and Collard says that the sudden growth in Lime bike use is rCLsomething theyrCOre adapting and getting used to,rCY identifying that the traditional cycling community may be distinct from the wider community of people using the
electric hire bikes to commute around the city.

But he added that itrCOs not a contradiction working for cycling campaigners and taking legal action against hire bike providers, noting that rCLMost of
our work with Lime Bikes is still to act on behalf of cyclists.

rCLThe LCCrCOs campaigning for safer cycling is core to their mission, and their work with local councils is often specific to junctions that benefits everyone, regardless of whether they know the LCC or not.rCY

[linked article] Lime bike boss proposes adjusting traffic lights rCLto
reward safe cyclistsrCY

<https://road.cc/ebiketips/news/law-doesnt-work-for-lime-bikes-says-lawyer>
--
Spike
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From Newsgroup: uk.rec.cycling

On 16/03/2026 22:26, Spike wrote:

rCLThe legislation doesnrCOt coperCY: Calls for e-bike hire law changes as Lime
bike-related injury claims surge in London

A leading cycling injury lawyer tells ebiketips rCLitrCOs inevitablerCY that
some Lime bikes will be defective but doesnrCOt rCLknow if itrCOs more sinisterrCY

by CALLUM DEVEREUX
UPDATED TUE, MAR 10, 2026 15:44

A leading lawyer representing clients injured by electric hire bikes in London says rCLthe law doesnrCOt do a good enough jobrCY of protecting everyone
who uses or interacts with them.

E-bikes have rapidly become a familiar sight on UK roads, with hire schemes such as Lime Bikes, and Forest Bikes, making cycling more accessible. However, these heavier, faster bikes have also led to a rise in serious collisions involving both riders and pedestrians.

Last year, a report by London Centric suggested that one in 10 Lime bikes
may have dangerous mechanical issues, including in some cases
malfunctioning brakes. While that report was fairly limited in that it only examined 50 e-bikes to come to the conclusion that 12 per cent should not
be in use, the injury claims against Lime have once again brought the discussion around maintenance of hire bikes into the spotlight.

[linked article] rCLI see at least one patient a weekrCY: Doctor claims surge in rCyLime bike legrCO injuries linked to tourists and inexperienced riders

Sam Collard, partner at Osbornes Law and lead solicitor for cycling accidents, told ebiketips that last yearrCOs reporting led to a surge in injury enquiries to an unprecedented level that has sustained. Osbornes Law previously told The Standard that they were being approached by around 10 Lime bike cyclists a month, with roughly two of those cases severe enough
to be taken on.

rCLThere are a hell of a lot of Lime bikes,rCY Osborne says. rCLItrCOs inevitable
that some will be defective, but I donrCOt know if thererCOs something more sinister.

[linked article] Cyclists injured in crashes caused by rCLfaultyrCY Lime bikes
that rCLfell apartrCY file 12 compensation claims

rCLWerCOve had cases of defects, one client had his seat fall off mid-ride. Wheels have locked, brakes donrCOt work. I know from these stories that Lime insist they maintain their fleet. [Defects] might be inevitable due to the size of the fleet, or a faulty inspection regime.rCY

rCL[The injuries] are a combination of the heavy weight of Lime compared to non-electric standard bikes, and then anyone can hire them, theyrCOre not used to them. A relatively low speed accident where the bike lands on top
of you is causing quite nasty injuries and broken limbs in some cases.rCY

However, whilst Collard suggested there could be shortcomings in the duty
of care provided by the hire bike providers, the safety risks are being exacerbated by out-of-date legislation governing e-bike provisions. Last month, Transport for London announced new regulations aimed at tightening
the rules around pedal cabs. This included each cab driver passing a safety test, and holding at least a driving theory test certificate. A new
licensing system was also introduced coupled with fare caps.

Collard suggests that new legislation could codify a duty of care or
certain safety precautions, identifying that whilst Lime offer third-party insurance to all e-bike users, other providers donrCOt.

rCLE-bikes are very new, the legislation we have doesnrCOt cope with them. You
donrCOt need a special license or training but theyrCOre very different and more powerful than normal bikes. We need more rules and legislation to provide better protection to both riders and other road users (other
cyclists and pedestrians).

rCLWerCOre also seeing a surge in cases of pedestrians being hit by electric hire bikes and the law doesnrCOt do a good enough job of dealing with these cases.rCY

[linked article] rCLAll they did was give me a -u6.99 refundrCY: Cyclist suing
Lime over e-bike horror crash which rCLsnapped his leg like a twigrCY says itrCOs
rCLonly a matter of time before someone diesrCY

A Lime spokesperson previously told The Standard they rCLare saddened to hear about these incidents and our thoughts are with those impacted. Safety informs everything we do at Lime rCo from how we design and maintain our vehicles, to our rider education, and how we work with cities.

Osbornes Law are also the legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign, and Collard says that the sudden growth in Lime bike use is rCLsomething theyrCOre
adapting and getting used to,rCY identifying that the traditional cycling community may be distinct from the wider community of people using the electric hire bikes to commute around the city.

But he added that itrCOs not a contradiction working for cycling campaigners and taking legal action against hire bike providers, noting that rCLMost of our work with Lime Bikes is still to act on behalf of cyclists.

rCLThe LCCrCOs campaigning for safer cycling is core to their mission, and their work with local councils is often specific to junctions that benefits everyone, regardless of whether they know the LCC or not.rCY

[linked article] Lime bike boss proposes adjusting traffic lights rCLto reward safe cyclistsrCY

<https://road.cc/ebiketips/news/law-doesnt-work-for-lime-bikes-says-lawyer>

E-bikes are motorbikes.
They should be subject to the same laws and conditions for the use of motorbikes.
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