A pedestrian who sustained severe injuries, including spinal fractures and a broken femur, after being hit by a child on a Lime e-bike in central London is calling for stricter regulations on dockless electric bikes. Jane Ouartsi was walking in a pedestrianized area in August 2023 when the incident occurred.
Ms. Ouartsi described the impact as hearing her "spine and body split," leaving her feeling like a "broken china doll." She spent 36 days in the hospital, underwent three surgeries, and has had to relearn how to walk. Police took witness statements at the time but did not pursue further action, and Ms. Ouartsi stated that Lime has not offered any compensation.
She has appealed to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to use the recently enacted English Devolution Bill to implement tighter parking and licensing rules for e-bikes across the capital. Mayor Khan has previously expressed concerns about the sector, calling it a "Wild West" and emphasizing the need for regulation.
Ms. Ouartsi's partner, Dave Mathias, echoed the call for swift legislative action, comparing e-bikes to other motorized vehicles that require licenses and are prohibited on pavements. He also suggested that technology could be employed to slow down e-bikes in designated areas.
Lime, one of several dockless e-bike operators in London, states that it provides users with free third-party liability insurance. A company spokesperson expressed regret over the incident and stated that Lime takes such events seriously, reviewing and handling them in line with company policies. The company emphasized that safety is a core principle in its operations.
The rise of e-bikes has been met with controversy, including issues of inconsiderate parking and dangerous riding. Reports from the previous year indicated that trauma surgeons had even coined the term "Lime bike leg" due to a rise in severe lower-leg injuries from patients being crushed by overturned electric bikes.
Ms. Ouartsi's case is not the only one drawing attention. Sandy Peters, another pedestrian, was injured last October when a teenager on a Forest bike collided with her, causing facial fractures and other injuries. Ms. Peters faces significant dental expenses and is unable to claim compensation because Forest does not carry third-party insurance.