E-bikes could be banned in Coventry's pedestrian centre

A ban on riding e-bikes and e-scooters through Coventry’s pedestrianised centre could come into force in just three weeks’ time.

Most riders of the electrically powered two-wheelers will have to dismount on the city’s main shopping streets or risk a fine or prosecution, if plans go ahead.

But people using pedal cycles won’t be affected by the ban, after some groups raised concerns this could be “counterproductive,” according to a council report.

Those who rely on the devices as mobility aids, for example people who use mobility scooters for access, will also be exempt from the ban, it added.

The move would be brought in as a change to the city centre’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which tackles anti-social behaviour within the ring-road.

It’s set to be signed off by the council’s Cabinet next Tuesday (7 November) and will be discussed by a scrutiny committee the day before.

If the ban is agreed it will come into force on November 20 and be publicised by the council for three weeks so people are aware of the new rules.

It would cover almost all the main pedestrian areas including Upper Precinct, Hertford Street, Broadgate square and most of the lower precinct and Market Way, but won’t apply to three smaller streets near the cathedral.

The move comes as more people are reporting fears for their safety in the centre due to rising numbers of bikes and e-scooters, according to a report by the council’s Community Safety Officer Liam Nagle.

“The level of concern has been raised particularly due to the volume of e-bikes and motorcycles that look like bikes being used by delivery teams,” it added.

“Some people have also been observed to be riding recklessly and in a dangerous manner and the speed of some of e-bikes, e-scooters and cycles

makes some pedestrians feel unsafe.

“The Council wants to ensure that people feel safe when visiting the city centre and to mitigate against any potential accidents whilst also recognising the importance of enabling cyclists to travel around the city.”

Earlier this year the council surveyed some 1,100 people, almost all members of the public and most regular city centre visitors, to get their views on a blanket ban on cycling and using e-scooters in the main pedestrian streets.

Most of the respondents, nearly 80%, supported the move – and a similar amount said people riding bikes and e-scooters in the centre made them feel more unsafe, according to a summary of the responses.

Of those who were against the ban, the most common response was that it should apply to e-bikes and e-scooters but not pushbikes.

The majority also wanted the rule to include manual scooters and apply at all times, and some even said it should extend to cover the entire city centre.

Other groups including the area’s business improvement district and West Midlands Police expressed their support for the plans.

The police’s anti-social behaviour co-ordinator in the city Nicholas Mansell said city centre officers had seen a shift in public opinion towards cyclists – with more people asking how “certain aspects” of cycling would be dealt with.

“We have seen incidents within the City Centre where offenders on bicycles have carried out robberies against the person or used bicycles to get away from incidents, so not being able to ride their bikes in the pedestrianised areas will help address this,” he added.

It was also supported by the manager of Coventry’s neighbourhood enforcement officers (NEOs) Simon Hutt who said current powers allowing them to ask unsafe or reckless riders to dismount posed “challenges.”

Some officers were asked to deal with priority issues outside the centre, like fly-tipping, meaning a number of cyclists “couldn’t be challenged.”

Riders of e-bikes, especially food delivery riders, were “most problematic” due to the speed they travel at, he added.

“Equally many of the riders wore headphones and as such couldn’t hear officers shout at them asking them to stop.”

But he also raised concerns about the idea of banning people from riding e-bikes rather than all cycling in the area, saying it would be “very difficult” for officers.

“Modern ebikes do not differ greatly from pedal cycles in terms of how they look, especially from a distance,” he said.

“There is also the question of resource, the City Centre is quite a large area to cover, even if referring to the pedestrianised areas.

“To have enough officers to safely cover this area and also make the distinction between bike types is unlikely under current budgets.

“If all cyclists have to dismount it will make any cyclists that do not far easier for officers to spot and engage, equally all pedestrians will be aware of the order and many will make their views known to cyclists who will quickly realise they should not be riding their bike in the area, even if a NEO is not nearby.”

However, others responding to the consultation were against the blanket ban on all types of cycling.

Adam Tranter, Walking and Cycling Commissioner for the West Midlands, said in a letter that he didn’t believe a total ban on city centre cycling would be proportionate.

He claimed the council has “sufficient powers” to deal with cyclists going too fast in these areas by requiring them to dismount when asked, and no evidence has been shown that this isn’t enough to deal with public concern.

Police can seize illegal e-bikes that cause people to feel unsafe and this is likely to be a “stronger deterrent” than fines which could effectively be “priced in” by delivery couriers who use e-bikes.

Most cyclists don’t ride quickly through areas where people walk and aren’t involved in crashes – and research shows the majority of cyclists self-adjust their speed in crowded areas, he pointed out.

The move would also “sever” important and well used routes for cyclists going from north to south and east to west across the centre and could lead to them having to use less sutiable routes, Mr Tranter added.

He concluded by saying he wouldn’t support the ban and believes issues around those behaving “irresponsibly and illegally” should be tackled under current powers instead.

The ban was also opposed by Transport for West Midlands’ head of transport strategy and planning who said it should apply to a smaller pedestrian area and allow a separated cycle route through Broadgate.

Carl Beet said the move could put people off taking up cycling, might hinder people from hiring bikes under the group’s scheme and could mean cyclists are forced to use less suitable or unsafe routes.

Green councillor Esther Reeves also raised concerns that a blanket ban would send “very mixed messages” to people thinking about taking up cycling in the city.

In her response she claimed the centre “feels like a blackhole” for the cycle network and suggested a lane is added to Broadgate and more signs are put in to help cyclists.

“As a council we have made good moves towards being a city which is more accessible for active travel but currently the city centre almost feels like a blackhole for the cycle network and a total ban would make that worse not better,” she wrote.

Cllr Reeves also highlighted the difference between high-powered e-bikes which are motorbikes and “should not be used” and low-powered ones which can help people get into cycling and shouldn’t be demonised.

A charity supporting disabled cyclists, Wheels for Wellbeing, told the council they were “very concerned” about a total cycling ban as many people with disabilities use bikes as mobility aids and can’t safely get off and push them.

They asked the council to make it clear in their PSPO wording that disabled riders including people with invisible disabilities will still be allowed to ride slowly and at walking speed.

Coventry council’s report said it has acted on some of the suggestions raised by groups concerned about the effects on disabled cyclists, as can be seen in the ban’s wording.

An equality impact assessment done earlier this month also included evidence from the city’s disability equality action partnership (DEAP) highlighting near misses in the city centre and incidents of injuries.

It found that for most groups the move would have a positive and negative impact which could be alleviated by walking with the cycle or taking a different route.

People with disabilities would be made “significantly safer” by the changes as they are at higher risk of crashes, it added.

The council’s main report on the move also said it is “committed to remaining a cycle friendly city.”

It said the area where the devices will be restricted is “within close proximity to alternative cycle routes,” and people riding e-bikes will “only be required to dismount for a short distance.”

But the report also noted groups and councillors’ concerns over whether a blanket ban on cycling will be “necessary or proportional to the current issues.”

“Concerns were raised that it could be counterproductive and send out contradictory messages about how cyclists are treated in the city,” it said.

“Some respondents to the consultation also opposed the blanket ban and commented that we should target only e-bikes as they cause the majority of the problems.”

The current PSPO says people must ride bikes or skateboards in the centre in a “careful and considerate manner” and dismount when asked to by an officer if they’re riding in a dangerous way.

This wording will be changed to include manual scooters if the move is agreed next week.

The planned ban on riding e-bikes and e-scooters will be discussed by councillors on the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee next Monday (6 November.)

It will go to a Cabinet meeting the day after where councillors are recommended to give the plan approval.