'Wild west' e-bike parking targeted - with possibility of locally set fees

The government is seeking to end "wild west" e-bike parking and crack down on antisocial behaviour, such as riding on pavements. <p>A consultation launched on Thursday will set out proposed new national standards and powers for local leaders to keep pavements clear and make journeys safer.</p><p>More radical options are also being explored, such as allowing local leaders to set fees and insurance requirements for operators.</p><p>Shared e-bikes, such as Lime, Voi, Beryl, Dott, Forest and Bolt, are an increasingly popular way to get around, with dockless e-bikes first arriving in the UK in 2018.</p><p>Prime Minister Andy Burnham said while e-bikes can make getting around easier, they can be "a real frustration" when they block pavements or are used irresponsibly.</p><widget id="4"></widget><p>Proposed measures include a parking and fleet management plan, setting out fleet sizes and operating areas to prevent overcrowding on pavements.</p><p>Action for antisocial and illegal behaviour is also being planned to prevent users from riding shared cycles drunk, underage, or on pavements.</p><p>The government also plans to set out clear consequences for those breaking these rules, such as fines.</p><p>Operators could also face requirements to share data with local authorities to improve enforcement and journey planning.</p><p>Insurance requirements for operators that would allow people to claim compensation if hit by someone on a shared cycle are also a possibility.</p> <widget id="1"></widget><p>Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said shared e-bike schemes had "revolutionised" how people travel in towns and cities.</p><p>However, she stressed the need to "make sure they work with, not against, the communities where they operate".</p><p>Agustin Guilisasti, founder and CEO of Forest, a London-based shared e-bike firm, said the city needed national standards and a coherent, well-regulated system.</p><p><strong>More from Sky News:<br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/video/what-s-in-the-leaked-eu-uk-joint-statement-skys-sam-coates-explains-13608099" target="_self">Leaked document shows EU wants more cash from UK</a><br /><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/uk-agrees-to-talks-addressing-historical-harms-of-slavery-but-pm-rules-out-reparations-13608208" target="_self">UK agrees to 'time-bound' talks on harms of slave trade</a></strong></p><p>The government hopes the plans will provide greater certainty on where and how cycle schemes run, putting an end to the patchwork of rules for operating in different areas.</p><p>Eleanor Briggs, head of policy, public affairs and campaigns at Guide Dogs, welcomed the consultation.</p><p>"For people with sight loss, badly parked rental e-bikes are a barrier to independent travel, blocking pavements, creating unexpected obstacles and making it harder to navigate safely," she said.</p><p>She added that the charity "frequently hears from people with a vision impairment about irresponsible and antisocial use of e-bikes on pavements, putting pedestrians at risk".</p>