E-bike handlebars in London carry high levels of biological contamination, including in some cases faecal matter, according to a new study from Initial Washroom Hygiene.
Experts from the company swabbed 50 e-bikes at various central London locations between June 30 and July 14. The tests found biological residue from skin cells, sweat, saliva and food residue, as well as faecal matter in some cases.
Jamie Woodhall, UK Technical and Innovations Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, said that as more people use shared transport and eat outdoors in summer, it is worth remembering that germs are invisible and high levels of biological contamination can be found on everyday touchpoints many people rarely think about. He said ATP testing does not identify specific bacteria or viruses but does highlight where biological contamination is present. He added that good hand hygiene remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to help reduce the spread of germs, particularly before eating or sharing food.
Lime has grown in popularity in London since launching in 2018, with millions of people hiring its e-bikes to get around the city. Until now, how dirty the bikes are had remained unclear.
To investigate, the scientists used ATP swabs and an ATP bioluminescence reader to measure biological activity on the 50 handlebars. ATP tests are widely used in hospitals and the food industry to assess how clean a surface is, and while they do not identify specific bacteria or viruses, they can indicate where biological residue has been left behind.
The results showed an average contamination level of 1,563 units, more than triple the level experts consider high. One bike measured 7,123 units, indicating extremely high contamination.
Fewer public toilets, less hand washing
Woodhall pointed to a separate study from the British Toilet Association, which found the number of public toilets has fallen by 40 per cent since 2000. He said that as a result, many people have fewer opportunities to wash their hands while out and about, and that carrying hand sanitiser and following simple hygiene precautions can help people enjoy summer activities with greater peace of mind.
Many riders have already raised the issue on social media. One TikTok user posted a video of a filthy Lime bike, writing: "@Lime PLEASE TELL ME YOU JET WASH YOUR BIKES." Another wrote: "I've had to put Dettol antibacterial wipes in my pouch just for lime bikes." A third joked: "Getting a new, clean e-bike is like a blessing from the gods!"
Doctors flag safety concerns too
Beyond hygiene, doctors have raised concerns about e-bike safety. Dr Suhail Hussain, a healthcare expert and private GP, said that as a GP with 20 years of experience, he often sees traffic related injuries and has recently noticed a real increase in patients presenting with injuries sustained from e-bikes. He said they are a practical option but deserve far more respect than most new riders give them, and that e-bike injuries are consistently more serious than people expect. He said the most frequent injuries he sees are fractures, particularly to the wrist, collarbone and leg, along with head and facial injuries.
