E-bikes are set to be fitted with number plates as part of a new initiative to curb dangerous riding and improve identification of cyclists involved in incidents. One-third of the 1,500-bike fleet operated by Forest in Richmond, west London, will be equipped with five-digit identification codes displayed on number plates.
This measure follows a surge in e-bike related incidents, with nearly 39,000 recorded by police forces across the UK in the last three years. These incidents range from collisions causing fatalities and life-changing injuries to drug trafficking, robberies, assaults, and sexual offenses. The Forest spokesman stated that the new system will allow for faster identification of riders involved in incidents when a bike number is shared, enabling quicker action.
Around 500 number plates have reportedly already been fitted to Forest bikes in Richmond upon Thames. Riders who repeatedly violate rules may face bans from using the rental service.
The clampdown comes amid several high-profile cases involving e-bikes. In one instance, a woman named Sandy Peters alleged she was thrown into a brick wall by an e-bike rider, sustaining severe facial and dental injuries. "The bike was going full-pelt and I was hit with such brutal force and speed that there were no defensive injuries," Peters stated. "I didn't have time to put out my hands or arms, so my face smashed straight into the wall."
Another incident involved the daughter of BBC broadcaster Nicky Campbell, who was left "badly injured" after a hit-and-run incident in Peckham, south London. In a case that drew national attention, teenager Billy Stokoe was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for killing 86-year-old grandmother Gloria Stephenson on a zebra crossing in Sunderland in 2025. Stokoe was under the influence of cannabis and using his mobile phone at the time of the collision.
Police data indicates a significant number of incidents are linked to e-bikes. Devon & Cornwall and Dorset Police recorded over 9,600 incidents in three years, with nearly 1,000 Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) involving e-bikes. More than 700 incidents were categorized under 'violence against the person,' with others involving drug offenses, weapons possession, and sexual offenses. In over a third of these cases, the police were unable to identify a suspect.
West Yorkshire Police reported a substantial increase in e-bike related incidents, with a 122 percent rise from 2023 to 2024, totaling 8,647 incidents over three years. This included hundreds of RTCs and thousands of anti-social behavior and crime-related incidents, such as robberies and arson. The force also reported a significant number of cases where suspects could not be identified.
City of London Police have also reported arrests of e-bike riders for offenses including immigration violations, suggesting potential use by individuals working in the gig economy, such as delivery services, who may be in the UK beyond their permitted time limits. A spokesman for Forest confirmed that the company has been contacted for further comment.