The union Aslef has threatened strike action over Sadiq Khan’s unwillingness to ban e-bikes from the London Underground network despite them causing severe fire risks.
The warning comes after an explosion at Rayners Lane station occurred on February 27, which saw an e-bike catch fire on a platform, sending toxic fumes across the station.
The union has now argued that e-bikes pose the same fire risk as e-scooters, which were banned from the tube in 2021 due to their lithium batteries.
While e-scooters were banned, Aslef has accused tube managers of "refusing to ban explosive e-bikes" despite the clear safety risks.
In February, the explosion saw debris scattered along the platform with flames shooting into the air.
The cyclist who was wheeling the e-bike intended to carry it on the train before it exploded.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
London Fire Brigade was called to extinguish the blaze, which was put out within 30 minutes.
An internal London Underground investigation concluded that the e-bike was "only moments away from boarding the train".
The incident caused temporary disruption to the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines. Aslef have warned that the situation "could have been much worse" if the explosion had occurred on board a train.
Finn Brennan, Aslef's organiser on the Underground, told the Evening Standard: "An explosion onboard a train would almost certainly have led to serious casualties or deaths. And if it led to a derailment, there was a real risk of a mass casualty event."
Brennan highlighted that it was common to see groups of e-bikers boarding tube trains together, "exponentially increasing the dangers of a fire and explosion, as a fire on one could cause others to explode".
"The absolute hypocrisy of banning scooters and other battery-operated vehicles, but not e-bikes is staggering and a real risk to passengers, platform staff, and Tube train drivers," he added.
TfL banned e-scooters and e-unicycles from the Tube in 2021 after two alarming incidents on the District line and in a Jubilee line depot.
However, e-bikes are still permitted on the Underground despite using similar lithium batteries to e-scooters and thus posing the same kind of fire risk.
Current TfL rules allow non-folded cycles, including e-bikes, on certain tube lines outside peak hours - before 7:30am, between 9:30am and 4pm, and after 7pm on weekdays, and at any time on weekends and bank holidays.
Folded cycles are allowed at any time on all transport services, but electric scooters are prohibited regardless of whether they're folded.
A TfL spokesperson said: "Our primary concern is always the safety of our customers and staff, and we regularly review our risk assessments and the controls we have in place to ensure our customers can travel safely.
"Following the recent incident at Rayners Lane station, we are reviewing our risk assessment and continue to talk to the London Fire Brigade about this incident."
Aslef also criticised TfL's response, with a spokesperson saying: "It beggars belief that TfL is still allowing these potentially explosive devices on their services. Our health & safety reps have been pointing out the dangers for years, but still TfL refuses to act."
Another Tube union, the TSSA, also wants e-bikes to be banned from the London Underground. The union met with TfL bosses on Tuesday to discuss their concerns.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
In a statement, the TSSA stated that safety "must come first" to protect passengers and transport workers.
Brennan warned that there can be "no justification for continuing to put staff and passengers at risk" by continuing to allow potentially explosive devices on London Underground trains.
The threat of strike action comes amid growing concerns about lithium battery fires on public transport and in homes across London.
Last year the London Fire Brigade attended nearly 200 fires related to these devices with experts now urging riders to take safety concerns seriously.
Find Out More...
The warning comes after an explosion at Rayners Lane station occurred on February 27, which saw an e-bike catch fire on a platform, sending toxic fumes across the station.
The union has now argued that e-bikes pose the same fire risk as e-scooters, which were banned from the tube in 2021 due to their lithium batteries.
While e-scooters were banned, Aslef has accused tube managers of "refusing to ban explosive e-bikes" despite the clear safety risks.
In February, the explosion saw debris scattered along the platform with flames shooting into the air.
The cyclist who was wheeling the e-bike intended to carry it on the train before it exploded.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
London Fire Brigade was called to extinguish the blaze, which was put out within 30 minutes.
An internal London Underground investigation concluded that the e-bike was "only moments away from boarding the train".
The incident caused temporary disruption to the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines. Aslef have warned that the situation "could have been much worse" if the explosion had occurred on board a train.
Finn Brennan, Aslef's organiser on the Underground, told the Evening Standard: "An explosion onboard a train would almost certainly have led to serious casualties or deaths. And if it led to a derailment, there was a real risk of a mass casualty event."
Brennan highlighted that it was common to see groups of e-bikers boarding tube trains together, "exponentially increasing the dangers of a fire and explosion, as a fire on one could cause others to explode".
"The absolute hypocrisy of banning scooters and other battery-operated vehicles, but not e-bikes is staggering and a real risk to passengers, platform staff, and Tube train drivers," he added.
TfL banned e-scooters and e-unicycles from the Tube in 2021 after two alarming incidents on the District line and in a Jubilee line depot.
However, e-bikes are still permitted on the Underground despite using similar lithium batteries to e-scooters and thus posing the same kind of fire risk.
Current TfL rules allow non-folded cycles, including e-bikes, on certain tube lines outside peak hours - before 7:30am, between 9:30am and 4pm, and after 7pm on weekdays, and at any time on weekends and bank holidays.
Folded cycles are allowed at any time on all transport services, but electric scooters are prohibited regardless of whether they're folded.
A TfL spokesperson said: "Our primary concern is always the safety of our customers and staff, and we regularly review our risk assessments and the controls we have in place to ensure our customers can travel safely.
"Following the recent incident at Rayners Lane station, we are reviewing our risk assessment and continue to talk to the London Fire Brigade about this incident."
Aslef also criticised TfL's response, with a spokesperson saying: "It beggars belief that TfL is still allowing these potentially explosive devices on their services. Our health & safety reps have been pointing out the dangers for years, but still TfL refuses to act."
Another Tube union, the TSSA, also wants e-bikes to be banned from the London Underground. The union met with TfL bosses on Tuesday to discuss their concerns.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- HMRC announcement will have 'big impact' on petrol, diesel and electric car owners with new costs
- UK city to introduce new traffic cameras next week with drivers facing £70 fine for breaking rules
- Drivers warned of new parking laws launching next week impacting thousands with £100 fines
In a statement, the TSSA stated that safety "must come first" to protect passengers and transport workers.
Brennan warned that there can be "no justification for continuing to put staff and passengers at risk" by continuing to allow potentially explosive devices on London Underground trains.
The threat of strike action comes amid growing concerns about lithium battery fires on public transport and in homes across London.
Last year the London Fire Brigade attended nearly 200 fires related to these devices with experts now urging riders to take safety concerns seriously.
Find Out More...