Electric scooters are to be banned on London’s Tube network, buses and trains, amid concerns over fire risks from defective batteries.
Transport for London said privately owned e-scooters and e-unicycles, including those that can be folded or carried, would not be allowed on its transport network or any of its premises from Monday after reports of them catching fire on its services.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is chairman of the transport authority.
TfL said it had recorded two incidents in recent weeks of e-scooters or e-unicycles emitting toxic smoke as a result of unsafe lithium-ion batteries. The London Fire Brigade has recorded more than 50 fires involving e-scooters and e-bikes this year.
Privately owned electric scooters are illegal to use on public roads or pavements, although there are trials of licensed fleets of scooters operated by hire companies, which are subject to more robust safety standards.
However, private scooters remain widely available for sale and are not regulated to a safety standard. The Department for Transport has been considering revising the law to allow e-scooters onto roads.
TfL said that the ban would remain under review while the Government considers changing legislation.
Ignoring the ban could see scooter owners refused entry to public transport or hit with a fine of up to £1,000.
TfL said an e-scooter had recently burst into flames at Parsons Green Station, and an e-unicycle on a Jubilee Line train at Stanmore station in North West London. Investigations had found that cases of scooters catching fire were down to defective batteries.
