Companies and organisations including Transport for London (TfL) are preparing to ban staff from bringing e-bikes to work after a surge in serious fires caused by faulty batteries.
TfL’s ban, which could take effect by autumn, would also stop members of the public taking e-bikes on London Overground trains, which carried 157 million passengers in 2023, and presently allow all bikes to be carried on board. TfL sources suggested that an exemption for foldable Brompton bikes, which are manufactured in Britain under strict regulations, might be considered.
Workplace restrictions on e-bikes, which cost from £600 to as much as £10,000, could make them less attractive for commuters if they are not easily able to park them securely during the working day.
London Fire Brigade (LFB)