Latest news with #ebikes
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Illegal e-bikes and scooters seized in Sheffield city centre
About 150 e-bikes and electric scooters being used illegally have been seized in a crackdown by police in of the e-bikes seized was capable of being ridden at speeds of 40mph (64.3km/h) - more than twice the legal limit of 15.5mph (25km/h), South Yorkshire Police force warned that where an e-bike exceeded the limit, it was considered a motorcycle or moped and required insurance, tax and a valid Andy Rimmer said e-bikes travelling at such speeds would put "pedestrians going about their daily business at risk". E-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes and are only permitted on private land with the landowner's exception is when they are hired as part of a government-approved scheme and are allowed in certain force said work had been ongoing in the city centre area since December to target what they said were "potentially dangerous machines".Insp Rimmer said a 34-year-old man had been reported for summons after being found on an illegally modified e-bike with no insurance or added: "We take a structured approach when it comes to electric e-bikes and scooters - and the first stage is always engagement and education."If you're stopped riding what we think is an illegal electric bike or scooter, we will explain and encourage you to follow the law."But, as our results show, we do have the power to seize them depending on the circumstances." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lime
A lime e-bike. Credit - Courtesy Lime With 270,000 rentable e-bikes and e-scooters spread across 30 countries on five continents, the world's largest 'micromobility' company is proving that plenty of people are ready to avoid autos for city excursions under five miles. 'The things that make somebody in London want to use micromobility are also true in a place like Omaha, Nebraska,' CEO Wayne Ting says. In 2024, Lime saw its fourth straight year of 30%-plus growth (hitting $810 million in gross bookings) and reached record profitability. A partnership with investor Uber to allow bookings via that app didn't hurt. The company helped spark the micromobility trend through rapid expansion across the U.S. and Europe, when it first launched in 2017, and now even metropolises that don't have Lime have launched their own bike and scooter share services. Helping Paris become a 100% cyclable Olympics city in 2024, increasing its fleet there from 10,000 to 15,000, has prepared Lime to support other big events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Contact us at letters@
CBS News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Elk Grove's e-bike program gains speed as a community favorite
The results are in, and Elk Grove is saying its electric bike lending program is a big success. The e-bike effort is giving a jolt to people looking for an alternative way to get around town without having to rely on just pedal power. The city launched an electric bike lending program last fall, and it's been on the road to success ever since. "We have had over 600 requests now to borrow an e-bike since we launched at the beginning of September," said Kaley Lyons, Elk Grove's senior transportation planner. Jeff Wagley, owner of Cadence Bike Shop, said that e-bikes are popular with nearly every age group. "High schoolers, junior high schoolers, retired folks, people who just want to ride farther, get outside," Wagley said. Elk Grove purchased 20 bikes for the lending program, using money from a $200,000 federal grant. The city surveyed riders on why they used the bikes. "The top two reasons are recreation and also to run errands around town," Lyons said "I've talked to people that say, 'We rode it every single day, we started riding it to school, started riding it to work, so I think people just really appreciate it,' " Wagley said Since the lending launched, not a single e-bike has been stolen. The city also offered vouchers up to $1,000 for people to buy a new e-bike. "It was insane and we had so many people coming in," Wagley said. "All four bike shops in Elk Grove benefited from this." A goal of the program is to improve air quality and prevent traffic jams. The City of Elk Grove says that in just the first six months, people rode the bikes more than 1,600 miles and reduced more than 600 kilograms of CO2 emissions. "An e-bike really lets you take those in-town trips that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and really reduce congestion on our streets as well," Lyons said. "The more people we get on bikes, the fewer cars we have on our roads." Federal grant money for the lending program runs out in December, but the city council has approved continuing the program through at least June of next year.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Guardian
MPs urge Amazon and eBay to tighten controls on ebike and charger sales
MPs are calling on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls on the sale of ebikes and chargers after it emerged the online marketplaces are selling unsafe items that can exceed legal power or speed limits. This week Amazon and eBay were selling bikes and chargers from the Chinese brand Ridstar that are identical to, or very similar to, three items that were last week identified by the UK government's Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) as posing a serious fire risk because of substandard electrical components and charging equipment. The bikes were available to UK shoppers despite the government warning they had been prohibited from sale in the UK after some products had been intercepted by border officials. MPs called on Amazon and eBay to withdraw the bikes from sale, overhaul seller and product verification processes to prevent the listing of dangerous or illegal items; and endorse a national quality-assurance Kitemark to distinguish legal and fire-tested ebikes. 'It is highly likely that the identical Ridstar bike, and similar Ridstar bikes, for sale on will feature the same product safety issues and could pose an immediate fire risk to those purchasing and charging the items from Amazon,' wrote the MPs Fabian Hamilton and Olly Glover, the chair and vice-chair of the all party parliamentary group for cycling and walking, to the online marketplace's UK boss, John Boumphrey. In a separate letter, Hamilton and Glover urged eBay to 'urgently withdraw from sale all ebike products that do not meet appropriate safety certification or exceed the speed and power limits permitted for electrically assisted pedal cycles under UK law'. They asked for a 'detailed update' on how eBay was implementing a pledge to better control the sale of ebikes in the UK. The MPs said, for example, they had found more than 1,400 secondhand ebikes for sale by private sellers despite an apparent ban by the marketplace. Ebay has not confirmed this number. The letters to Amazon and eBay come after MPs on the committee called on the government to urgently act to stop the sale of illegal and potentially lethal electric bikes that it said were 'a crisis hiding in plain sight'. After being approached by the Guardian, Amazon said the Ridstar bike flagged by the OPSS had been removed from sale. A spokesperson said: 'We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations, and we monitor for product safety concerns. 'We also go further by requiring sellers of e-mobility products to provide documented testing certification carried out by an accredited lab.' The spokesperson added: 'Safety is a top priority at Amazon and we have partnered with the London fire brigade to provide customers with easy-to-understand expert tips on how to use and store ebikes and e-scooters safely.' After being contacted by the Guardian, eBay said it had removed 'a number of listings' for ebikes flagged by the OPSS and was 'working on identifying and removing any further items as quickly as possible'. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The company said: 'Whenever we identify an unsafe item on our platform, we remove it and alert any buyers. 'Consumer safety is a top priority at eBay. We take this issue seriously and ensure only eligible business sellers can list ebikes and ebike batteries for sale in the UK. Used ebike batteries are prohibited. 'In addition, we have begun CE audits of ebike battery listings to confirm all products have valid CE documentation. We also use block filter algorithms and AI-supported monitoring by our in-house specialists, aimed at preventing unsafe or otherwise prohibited listings.' Under UK law, ebikes are only allowed to use electric assist to power the machine up to 15.5mph when the rider is pedalling, with a maximum power output of 250w, but more powerful bikes are readily available online. Ridstar did not respond to a request for comment.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Pair bailed after A52 crash involving cars and e-bikes
Two men arrested after a crash involving two cars and three e-bikes in Nottingham have been released on bail, police have services were called to the A52 Derby Road near Wollaton Park in Nottingham at 04:22 BST on Police said the three bike riders were taken to hospital with injuries "not currently believed to be life-threatening in nature".The force has now, pending further inquiries, bailed two men, aged 24 and 25, who were arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The A52 was closed between the Priory and Queen's Medical Centre roundabouts for much of Sunday as specialist teams investigated the collision. Vehicles were recovered and a lamp-post was repaired.
