Transport for London (TfL) has announced that all non-folded e-bikes will be banned on parts of London's transport network from 31 March to ensure the safety of customers and staff.

The London transport network says it has been working with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and other partners to review the safety of e-bikes and their suitability for carriage.

While TfL admit some e-bikes are safe, the ban comes after a small number of incidents where non-foldable e-bikes have caught fire on the transport system in London. 

Lilli Matson, TfL's Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, said: "Our priority is always the safety of our customers and colleagues.

"We have been working closely with the London Fire Brigade on a review of the safety risks associated with e-bikes on our network and following this review, we will be putting this safety ban in place from 31 March 2025.

"Customers with non-foldable e-bikes will not be permitted to use our tube and rail services. This safety ban will play a vital role in keeping our transport system safe for everyone, and we continue to work with partners in government and beyond to improve e-bike safety."

The ban includes all non-folding e-bikes, including standard cycles that have been converted to e-bikes using conversion kits.

Non-folding bikes are currently not permitted on buses or trams. No e-bikes are permitted on the IFS Cloud Cable Car, and this will remain the position.

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Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, commented: "The safety of Londoners is my top priority and, while most e-bikes are safe, there have been a small number of incidents where non-foldable e-bikes have caught fire on the transport system, which have caused me great concern."

The new poster to be introduced with the ban across parts of the TfL netowrk (credit: Transport for London).

Due to the particular safety arrangements and operational environments of these services, non-foldable e-bikes will continue to be permitted on the Woolwich Ferry, river services (subject to operator), coach services (subject to operator), and on the Silvertown Tunnel Cycle Shuttle Service when it opens on 7 April.

TfL say its analysis drew on evidence of reported electric bike fires incidents to date, which showed a higher level of occurrence of fire in non-folding e-bikes.

London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner for Prevention, Protection & Policy, Charlie Pugsley, added: "We welcome this move by Transport for London following their detailed safety review, as it acknowledges the risks that we know e-bike batteries can pose.

"While we recognise the sustainable benefits e-bikes, and micromobility generally, bring to our city, the reality is that across London we have been seeing an e-bike or e-scooter fire every other day, on average, and we have particular concern about the risk posed by conversion kits or modified e-bikes.

"When these fires occur, they can be sudden, incredibly ferocious and produce smoke that is extremely toxic.

"As part of London Fire Brigade's #ChargeSafe campaign, we have been raising awareness about the fire risks and educating Londoners on how they can store and charge their e-bikes safely.

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"We are also working closely with the Government to improve the regulation around e-bikes and e-scooters.

"We hope this will reduce the risk of consumers being exposed to products like batteries and chargers that are more likely to malfunction because of the way they have been built, especially if they have been bought from an online marketplace or auction site where products may not meet safety standards."