Delivery apps should take responsibility for riders' e-bikes says electrical safety charity

by Alex Bowden Jul 27 2023

5 comments

Uber and Zoomo to launch e-bike trade-in scheme in New York in response to battery fires — Zoomo and Uber Eats 2.jpg, by Zoomo

London Fire Brigade has previously spoken to Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats in a bid to raise awareness of e-bike charging dangers

Delivery services should take responsibility and liability for the e-bikes operated by their delivery riders, according to Electrical Safety First (ESF). As part of its broader campaign for improved e-mobility battery safety standards, the charity also says that delivery apps should consider providing e-bikes themselves, or running an incentive scheme to encourage their riders to use company-approved vehicles.

Growing numbers of delivery workers now use electric bikes to carry out their work and ESF is not alone in its belief that the industry is particularly vulnerable to batteries, chargers and modifications which may prove a fire risk. In April, London Fire Brigade spoke to Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats in a bid to raise awareness of e-bike charging dangers.

Most delivery riders are employed as independent contractors and paid by the number of jobs they do, rather than operating as employees. This puts the onus on them to source their own e-bikes at their own cost.

ESF points to DIY modifications as an area of particular concern.

“As conversion kits sold online can be a fraction of the cost of a ready-built e-bike, they are more likely to appeal to those with less disposable income,” states its report.

“Furthermore, concerns have been raised around a growing cottage industry seeking to cash in on bike conversions, adapting ordinary pedal cycles that are then supplied to consumers. These businesses may not be aware that anyone in the supply chain can be held liable for the supply of unsafe products.”

The upshot is that DIY conversions are not uncommon in the delivery industry and ESF points to Deliveroo’s guide to converting your own e-bike as an indication that the practice is far from discouraged.

> How a Deliveroo e-bike rider made £295 in one (very long) day

“Notwithstanding the rise in incidents and the warnings being issued, correctly designed and fitted conversion kits sourced from reputable manufacturers and retailers, fitted professionally to a suitable cycle, are not inherently dangerous,” it adds.

“DIY conversions should be discouraged. We should therefore question the judgement of some delivery businesses that offer guidance on converting your own bike.”

While there is a dedicated safety standard for e-bikes, allowing manufacturers to demonstrate their product meets legal safety requirements, there is currently no such equivalent for e-bike conversion kits. ESF is calling for this to be addressed.

> Potentially dangerous e-bike chargers again found on sale on Amazon and eBay

It says that many e-bike conversion kits available online don’t include a battery, meaning sourcing one is left to the consumer. An incompatibility between battery and charger is frequently cited as being one of the most significant fire risks.

Take a look at our guide for a closer look at what makes some e-bikes batteries and chargers a fire risk.

How to ensure safe e-bikes in the delivery industry

ESF’s e-bike safety campaign calls for better regulation in many areas, but there are several recommendations that specifically relate to the delivery industry.

These are:

Delivery service businesses should take responsibility and liability for the safety of their riders who use e-micromobility vehicles
They should also consider providing e-bikes or running an incentive scheme to encourage their riders to use company approved e-micromobility vehicles
Delivery service riders who use e-micromobility vehicles must declare that their mode of transport is road legal
Delivery service businesses should stipulate e-micromobility specifications and maintenance requirements
Delivery service businesses should consider providing a safe charge bag or similar fire-protection enclosure to riders who use e-micromobility vehicles

In April, New York City adopted another of ESF’s recommendations – that all e-bike, e-scooter and other LEV battery packs be certified by a third-party.

In response to the development, Uber announced an e-bike trade-in scheme aimed at delivery riders.

New York has also since announced that $25m will be invested in 173 outdoor charging stations in a bid to reduce the number of charging fires which have occurred inside homes.

Author block

Alex Bowden

Alex has been editor of ebiketips since 2021, switching to a world with motors after seven years working on sister site road.cc, where he contributed news, reviews and the occasional feature. These days he combines his road riding with electric bike testing and a dash of ongoing cricket writing (his first book's due out in 2025).

5 comments

jrg_uk 1 year 4 months ago

I've seen "legit" hired e-bikes from the likes of Zoomo modified to bypass the cadence sensor or obviously moving under power beyond the legal speed.

So "company approved e-micromobility vehicles" is not a panacea.

chrisonatrike 1 year 5 months ago

As others have said how about companies start by just taking responsibility for their "employees-not-really-employees" in general? Delivery companies' business models uses public infra as a major resource. What they're selling (to their customers) is often faster services. Some of the costs of that are outsourced to us all. Whether that's turning a blind eye (or deliberately incentivising) practices which will lead to dangerous or illegal road use or effectively dodging tax / paying their staff below the minimum - we all pick up the bill. Never mind the inconvenience of illegally / badly-parked delivery vehicles all over the place. Not an emergency service!

Paul J 1 year 5 months ago

Actually a very good idea to hold the contracting companies responsible for the _near universal_ disregard for laws and regs around eBikes by their delivery riders. These bikes are unsafe on the road - many souped up to 35, even 40+ speeds, on very rickety wheels often - and unsafe when stored in housing thanks to the batteries and low-quality BMS electronics.

Problem, as per the other comment, is the need for enforcement.

open_roads 1 year 5 months ago

Public services need a bit of joined up thinking to save lives.

The Fire Brigades are now regularly attending (illegal) eBike and (illegal) eScooter fires. Some of these have been fatal and the trend is heading in the wrong direction - with more fires inside multi occupancy dwellings and also in the communal areas e.g. stairwells, preventing the means of escape for multiple dwellings. It's only a matter of time before we get a Grenfell type tragedy again.

Meanwhile the Police already have powers to seize illegal eScooters and eBikes. The process to identify such vehciles is simple : 1) all non rented eScooters are illegal to use on public roads 2) all eBikes that give assistance over 16mph and / or give assistance without peddling e.g. uphill are illegal and can be seized.

Police forces currently have a record number of warranted officers so the capacity issue is less credible than 2-3 years ago.

For the police, finding / seizing eBikes used by the food service couriers (Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat) couldn't be easier. They just need to wait up at the nearest high volume food outlets e.g. McDonalds and wait for them to turn up. Enforcement action would be quick and effective. Once "riders" know they are likely to have their eBike seized and face prosecution under the Road Traffic Act they will either change their vehicles or pack it in altogether.

But this won't happen because the services don't work together and the police can't be bothered - even when the road crimes are literally taking place on their own doorstep. In my locality the illegal deliveroo bikes are parked up within 50 metres of the main police station and even then the police apparently can't see what everyone else can. Presumably the next time there's a tragedy in a tower block caused by eBikes / eScooters the police will deploy huge numbers of officers to the restore public confidence vs. acting proactively to avoid it happening in the first place.

lifeonabike 1 year 5 months ago

excellent - every food delivery ebike/scooter in Cambridge is illegally chipped and travel way too fast for cycle lanes but the companies who employ these numpties don't do anything about it