Sheffield: Concern over illegal use of e-bikes for ‘speeding’.

A visually impaired commuter from Sheffield has said he feels at risk during his daily commute to work because of the danger posed by e-bikes.

Chloe Firth, 24, is blind and said despite many city center streets being pedestrianised, some cyclists ignore the restrictions.

She said she is particularly vulnerable around e-bikes because, despite their potential speed, they are virtually silent.

A council spokesman said that while the city had “the potential to be the e-bike capital of the UK”, it was working with the police to crack down on illegal use.

Anyone over the age of 14 can ride an electric bike without needing a license, but by law the motor must have a maximum power of 250W.

This restriction limits the e-bike’s speed to 15.5 mph (25 km/h) and it must also have pedals to be classified as a bicycle rather than a motorcycle.

Ms Firth was diagnosed as partially sighted at the age of five, but her sight has deteriorated in recent years.

He has corneal decompensation, which he describes as “extreme double vision,” and nystagmus, an involuntary eye twitch.

During her commute to work, Ms Firth said she walks on the Moor in the city center and often feels “scared” when she passes speeding e-bike users.

She told the BBC: “They go in and out of the crowds, which is good when you can see people coming, but I can’t see anything on the right and only when I’m very close to my left. You can’t get out of harm’s way fast enough.”

Ms Firth said another danger faced by visually impaired people was “kerb crowding”, when delivery drivers leave their bikes in the center of the pavement while dropping off food.

She said: “I managed to get my cane stuck between the wheels of the bike. Other friends of mine have even fallen over parked bikes.”

Chloe’s concerns are shared by the Royal Society for the Blind in Sheffield.

Chief executive Joanne Ardern said: “We have noticed e-bikes weaving in and out of pedestrians on pavements and pedestrian areas, sometimes without lights on and in the dark.

“We realize that people and organizations do not deliberately set out to cause problems for our customers, but many of us who are lucky enough to have good sight or mobility may take it for granted and simply not thinking about the consequences for others.”

Monica Scigliano, senior policy officer at Cycling UK, who lives in Sheffield, said a distinction needed to be made between different types of e-bikes, with many of the concerns being about illegal bikes being “too powerful”.

She said: “We do not condone this type of behaviour; cyclists must take responsibility for looking out for pedestrians.

“We have to remember that some of these vehicles that pedestrians are concerned about are being driven without pedals at speeds in excess of 15.5 mph. These are motorcycles and we should start calling them that.”

Councilor Ben Miskell, chair of transport, regeneration and climate at Sheffield City Council, said: “We want the streets to feel safe and welcoming for everyone and we are transforming the city center to make it a place everyone can be proud of .

“Sheffield is a city built on seven hills and has the potential to be the e-bike capital of the UK.

“However, e-bikes that have been modified to assist a cyclist at speeds above 15.5mph are illegal and causing problems in UK cities.

“We are determined to work with South Yorkshire Police and food delivery companies to resolve the issue.”