Dear Sadiq Khan,

I write to express Wheels for Wellbeing’s grave concerns about the discriminatory aspects of the recently introduced ban on non-folding e-cycles on TfL’s networks, and to request an urgent meeting to discuss the required reasonable adjustments. Our aim is to see that this ban, intended as a safety measure, does not disproportionally affect Disabled cyclists.

Wheels for Wellbeing is a Disabled People’s Organization (DPO) campaigning for equitable access to cycling, active travel, and multi-modal journeys for Disabled people. We also provide access to cycling for Disabled people in South London, via specialist cycle sessions, led rides, and (with partners) an inclusive cycles loan scheme.

We believe that the ban discriminates against Disabled people by preventing us from making journeys using safe, legal e-assist pedal cycles. In our view, as it currently stands, the ban is disproportionate, and reasonable adjustments are required to mitigate its negative effects on Disabled people while still reducing the risk of battery fires on the public transport network.

For many Disabled people, cycling is easier than walking or wheeling a wheelchair. It is however often impossible for Disabled cyclists to complete journeys solely by cycling, either with or without e-assist, due to lack of safe, accessible cycling infrastructure and/or due to our own circumstances. We frequently need to use public transport for sections of our longer journeys to access our work, education, volunteering, caring responsibilities, medical appointments and leisure.

Many Disabled cyclists need e-assist to ride, and need to use specific cycle types that are often non-folding (and where they exist, folding options can also make already very pricey specialist cycles unaffordable). In most cases, docked or dockless hire scheme cycles offer no viable alternative.

Using an e-cycle is also often the only way we have to reach a station which provide step-free access, at one or both ends of our journeys.

If barred from taking our cycles on public transport vehicles, many Disabled people are, in effect, barred from travelling actively, affordably and sustainably at all.

We consider that there are good options for TfL to make reasonable adjustments rather than unnecessarily restricting Disabled people’s mobility and facing potential legal challenges. For example, the existing TfL Mobility Aid Recognition scheme may be able to be expanded to registering Disabled people’s safe and legal e-cycles from reputable manufacturers (including reputable conversion kit providers), enabling Disabled people to continue to make multi-modal cycling/public transport journeys with non-folding cycles.

Our full position statement detailing our concerns on the TfL ban provides more details as does our guide to E-cycles, fire safety and Disabled people’s mobility and our response to the statutory guidelines on li-ion batteries and e-bikes.

I look forward to your response and to meeting the relevant teams as soon as possible to discuss the way forward.

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Isabelle Clement MBE

Director

Wheels for Wellbeing
www.wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk

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