23 September (Part 2) - Another ban
I thought banning things was the prerogative of the Labour Party
but apparently it is not. I have long believed that Council jobs are in the main filled
with people with a fetish for power over others who would never make it in any other occupation.
The
latest example is Bexley Council’s ban on electrically assisted cycles and scooters in parks.
What are they afraid of? The batteries catching fire and burning down Danson
House or riders who exceed the legal speed limit of 15 m.p.h?
As is usual with bans, the law abiding will be penalised and the balaclava clad
wheelie merchants will ignore it. Now in my 84th year I am effectively banned
from getting any two wheeled exercise. I will not be alone.
This is what the cycling fraternity in Bexley has to say about it…
Introducing a blanket ban on e-bikes in Danson Park is a
heavy-handed measure that hurts legitimate park users while missing the real source of the problem.
For many local residents, electrically assisted pedal
cycles (EAPCs) are a crucial mobility lifeline. Elderly cyclists rely on
moderate pedal-assist to stay active, care for their physical health, and
enjoy the green spaces of Bexley. Families depend on e-cargo bikes as a
safe, eco-friendly way to transport young children through the park, and
local shoppers use them as a sustainable alternative to cars for running
daily errands. Banning all e-bikes indiscriminately restricts the freedom of
responsible citizens who use these paths quietly and safely every day.
The
issue facing public spaces like Danson Park is not legitimate
e-bikes, but
rather illegal, high-powered electric motorcycles and reckless, antisocial
riding - often by individuals attempting to evade accountability behind
balaclavas. These offenders are a small, disruptive minority. They operate
outside existing laws, and imposing a blanket ban on standard
pedal-assist e-bikes will do nothing to stop those who are already willing to break the rules.
Targeting law-abiding riders - including seniors, parents, and local
shoppers, punishes the community for the actions of a few bad actors. Instead
of a sweeping ban that restricts sustainable transport and mobility,
enforcement efforts should focus directly on tackling illegal vehicles and
reckless behaviour through targeted park policing and anti-social behavior measures.