Merseyrail has come under fire from Cycling UK after banning all non-folding e-bikes from its train services and stations. The UK cycling charity has highlighted issues the ban causes for people with difficulties walking and issued a formal complaint to the Liverpool-based rail operator.
On 14 July, Merseyrail announced its plans to ban non-folding e-bikes from January 1, 2027, citing a safety review. The ban will cover all non-folding e-bikes, including ones that have been adapted or modified, conversion kits, and loose lithium-ion batteries. It won’t just apply to Merseyrail carriages: the ban will cover stations, car parks, and cycle storage.
Cycling UK wrote to Merseyrail on 6 August to highlight its concerns about the decision, which it stated would particularly affect people using e-bikes as mobility aids.
The letter also asked for a meeting with Merseyrail, and requested to see the safety review the operator used to justify the ban. However, Merseyrail declined the invitation to meet and confirmed that no consultation had taken place before the decision.
“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”, said Duncan Dollimore, Associate Director at Cycling UK. “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.”
Cycling UK has found a number of individuals who will be adversely affected by the ban, including Janet Farrell, from Formby, who said: “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.”
The cycling organisation has also worked with Wheels for Wellbeing, a charity aiming to promote and defend the rights of disabled and less-abled cyclists across the country, to remonstrate against Merseyrail’s decision.
Dr Kay Inckle, Campaigns and Policy Manager at Wheels for Wellbeing, said: “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.”
Now Cycling UK is using money from its Cyclists’ Defence Fund to escalate its initial letter to a formal complaint. Rather than a complete ban, the charity believes that the safety issues surrounding e-bikes are better tackled at the source.
“Legal e-bikes bought from reputable brands and sellers are extremely safe to use and provide a healthy, convenient and sustainable transport option”, Cycling UK said. “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.”
Merseyrail isn’t the first rail operator to ban all non-folding e-bikes: TfL introduced a ban across most of its services last year. Merseyrail’s only response so far has been to state to Cycling UK that “safety considerations led us to introduce the ban”.
