HIRE BIKE FIRE IRE

Talk about fuel for the fire.

If electric hire bike critics didn’t already feel justified in calling for a ban, they will now after one burst into flames minutes into a visitor’s ride on Saturday.

A fire station boss would later blame the lithium battery as the cause, speculating a faulty component from a cheap overseas import had probably started it.

Residents and Surfers Paradise leaders have already called for more regulation of hire bikes. Most are classed as bicycles enabling people of any age to ride on roads without a licence or basic competency.

Now, after Saturday’s midday blaze on The Esplanade, there is even more reason to scrutinise the industry and its standards.

The bikes are popular and have a place but it’s time to crack down with some standards on the source of them and their use.