Cycling UK to challenge Merseyrail e-bike ban

Cycling UK is challenging Merseyrail’s decision to ban non-folding electric bikes from its entire network, due to the devastating effect a blanket ban would have on some of the region’s residents, particularly older and disabled people.

The ban will worsen isolation, wellbeing and household finances, as it limits people’s independence, ability to stay active, get to work, visit friends and family and spend time outdoors. The challenge is supported by the Cyclists’ Defence Fund.

On 14 July Merseyrail announced that e-bikes that are fully legal in the UK would no longer be permitted anywhere on its network, citing a safety review it had conducted.

This would mean not only are e-bikes not allowed onto trains and stations, but they also cannot be left in safe cycle storage at any station on the network, which covers the Liverpool City Region and extends to parts of Cheshire and Lancashire.

Adverse effect on those using e-bikes as mobility aids

We wrote to Merseyrail on 6 August outlining our concerns about the ban, which would particularly affect people using electric bikes as mobility aids. For many people with difficulties walking, e-bikes can be the only way to get around independently.

The extra support from the electric assist can help people who would not be able to pedal a conventional bike. For anyone with reduced mobility, e-bikes work especially well in combination with train travel, allowing for a return trip by train in case of a mechanical problem or feeling unwell.

Many people we spoke to said the ban will mean they can no longer travel to hospital appointments, to work or to visit friends and family, with many having to give up cycling altogether and losing the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Some said that to stay independent, they will have to pay for taxis or drive instead as they’ll be unable to access more sustainable public transport, with some people facing financial hardship as a result.

One such resident is Janet Farrell, from Formby, who says:

I would be unable to go to medical appointments and I would be trapped in Formby. I’m sick on buses and I no longer have a car because of health and cost

She says she would be unable to visit her friend because they also don’t have a car, and she has relied on combining e-bike journeys with train travel.

Christine Smith, from Crosby, Liverpool, is part of a cycle group that often meets at a station to go further afield, and uses her electric bike to get there as she lives a distance from the others.

Christine says:

My health prevents me from using an ordinary bike, and if I’m forced to give up this activity, both my physical and mental health will be badly affected. I rely on the contacts I’ve built up for company and support, as many of my fellow cyclists do. Living alone can be isolating and lonely

Meeting request declined

We asked for a meeting to discuss the wider implications of the ban. We also asked to see the safety review – which Merseyrail referred to but has not published – to understand what evidence the train operator has for its fire safety concerns, and to clarify whether there had been any consultation with the public or stakeholders.

In its response, Merseyrail declined to meet and confirmed that no consultation had taken place before the decision. It stated that “safety considerations led us to introduce the ban”, but provided no detail on what those considerations were, instead stating that approved mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs would continue to be allowed on the network.

Duncan Dollimore, Associate Director at Cycling UK, said: “This is a huge backward step for accessible, sustainable transport in the region and one that will have a major impact on people’s wellbeing. Merseyrail’s response was deeply disappointing and showed they have failed to either adequately consider or understand the issue.

“People using e-bikes as their mobility aid are by definition not using other mobility aids, so offering reassurances about mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs is a fundamental misunderstanding of the problem. There is still time for Merseyrail to reverse its decision, and we urge them to reconsider in light of the devastating impact it will have on people’s lives.”

Dr Kay Inckle, Campaigns and Policy Manager at Wheels for Wellbeing, added: “As a Merseyside resident I know how devastating Merseyrail’s ban on non-folding e-cycles will be for Disabled people across the region. Cycles with e-assist are essential for Disabled people to navigate the hills and distances and to make essential journeys.

“This ban flies in the face of the ambition to make Merseyside the most accessible city region and undoes the good work Merseyrail have undertaken with level boarding and improving station accessibility.

“A blanket ban does not address the safety issues caused by illegal and unsafe devices, but it does deter cycling, which is essential for sustainability and public health across the region, especially for Disabled people.”

Legal e-bikes safe to use

Legal electric bikes bought from reputable brands and sellers are extremely safe to use and provide a healthy, convenient and sustainable transport option. To tackle fire safety risk posed by illegal and modified e-bikes, action is needed from the government to crack down on the sale online of the source of the risk.

We have now escalated our initial letter to a formal complaint supported by the Cyclists’ Defence Fund. The fund was established 25 years ago and supports significant legal cases and complaints concerning cycling and cyclists.