Delivery bikes face scrutiny amid cycling crackdown

Local authorities in Derby are preparing to boost efforts to tackle dangerous cycling in the city centre amid concerns about food delivery drivers in particular.

There will be increased and clearer signage to improve understanding on when and where e-bikes are allowed to be ridden, with the council acknowledging that there needs to be clearer communication about the rules.

An ongoing review into bikes on the high street is also examining how the city's cycle lanes are used and permitted usage times on the high street.

It follows recent comments from the Derby South MP Baggy Shanker, who said people were "fed up" of the "chaos" of food delivery drivers in the city.

The review is a joint exercise with the city council, Derbyshire Police and the Business Improvement District.

It initially emerged from a series of "city centre safety" summits held by local leaders last year following a spate of incidents.

Food delivery drivers were highlighted as a concern for pedestrians using the high street.

Police also said they were seizing illegal bikes daily from the city centre, and recently seized 31 e-scooters as part of a crackdown.

E-bikes and scooters have regulations around electronic assistance speeds and wattage.

Currently anyone over the age of 14 can ride a legal e-bike, as long as it has pedals, does not travel faster than 15mph (24 kmh), and has an output of no more than 250W.

But police have said a large number are being converted to travel faster than 15mph and do not have pedals or brakes.

Cycling is not permitted between the hours of 10:00 and 17:00 on Derby's main high street, St Peter's Street. Cyclists are expected to walk with their bikes during that period.

"We're educating and enforcing the legalities," Sgt Jamie Millard told the BBC of the review.

"We regularly stop delivery riders along with other e-bikes to make sure they're legal on the road. We're constantly checking them. We're seizing e-bikes and e-scooters that are illegal every day.

"Having this as a pedestrian zone, we want the public to use it as much as possible. We want people to use their bikes, we want that for Derby City... but we're taking action because we want people to be safe on the streets.

"If collecting and delivering, be respectful to members of the public and follow the rules."

Brad Worley, from Derby's Business Improvement District, said businesses supported the review and had been supportive of a more educational approach, rather than harsher penalties, which it will be leading on on behalf of local authorities in the city.

However, Worley added that more enforcement might be needed if there are no further improvements.

"The main issues for [businesses] are people cycling without care," he said.

"If we can't improve it through education... if there continues to be issues we'd be having further conversations with the local police."

The BBC contacted Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats for comment, whose couriers all operate regularly in the city.

Each said they actively worked with local authorities to improve public safety, and that couriers must follow the law. Some said contracts were terminated, if necessary, should rule breaking be found.

But Shanker has called on the government to ensure the companies are held more accountable for public safety on the high street.

"One of the issues that doesn't make [people] feel safe is the way food delivery drivers are going about their business," he said.

"I don't blame these drivers because they are being asked to do a really tough job, with some really strict timelines... food delivery companies are part of this solution as well.

"If we still get people blatantly breaking the current rules... then obviously enforcement is an option.

"But there's work to be done to understand the root causes."

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