To achieve the crispiest roast potatoes, there’s one ingredient everyone should be adding to the saucepan before parboiling
Everyone loves a crispy roast potato, but ensuring the results are golden and crunchy can be difficult. There are myriad methods and techniques home cooks can use to achieve crispy edges and fluffy insides on a roastie, but you don’t have to wait until they’re in the oven.
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Food content creator Emma, better known as Ems Foodie Fix on TikTok, recently shared some top-secret tips for creating the crispiest roast potatoes. Emma explained that she learned all she needed to know about making the best roast potatoes from a pub chef.
In a TikTok video from earlier this month, she said: “A pub chef taught me four secrets to make extra crispy roast potatoes. Listen to that crunch.”
You can give the potatoes a helping hand right from the start. When parboiling the potatoes, add bicarbonate of soda to the saucepan.
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The same method is used by American chef and food writer J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Kenji’s recipe calls for adding half a teaspoon of baking soda to approximately two litres of water, enough to cook about three pounds (450g) of cubed potatoes. The potatoes are then par-boiled in the baking soda water.
So how does it work? As baking soda is alkaline, adding it to the water for the potatoes creates an alkaline environment that breaks down the potato’s outer edges, releasing starches and forming a starchy slurry that crisps beautifully when roasted.
Once the potatoes are parboiled, drain away the water and give them a good shake in the colander. The baking soda will help the edges of the potatoes break down more easily, making them craggy.
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These craggy edges will crisp up beautifully when roasted. When roasting the potatoes in the oven, Emma recommended turning them at least four times.
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Turning will allow the potatoes to be coated in the chosen fat and help the skin turn golden brown. Emma’s last tip is all in the seasoning.
All you need is a simple mix of salt and fresh rosemary to give the spuds some flavour. However, the seasoning should be added after the potatoes are roasted.
Emma said: “We want flavour, not tiny burnt twigs.”
Emma’s video has been viewed over a massive 80,200 times, receiving 5,617 likes and 14 comments. Emily simply replied: “So good.”
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JP-ZoSo suggested: “They look fab! I usually add semolina powder to the parboiled spuds, then oven fry them in a shallow tray of Olive oil.”
Zargaloz commented, “These look absolutely amazing,” while another agreed, “Cor, you’ve made me hungry now they look perfect.”
Nicole said: “The most perfect potatoes.”
Chef’s tips for the crispiest roast potatoes
Add bicarbonate of soda to the water before boiling.
Give the potatoes a good shake (or chuff) after parboiling.
Turn the potatoes at least four times in the oven.
The so-called ‘pong’ seems to get worse after hot and/or wet weather
Darren Calpin, Local Democracy Reporter
12:00, 14 Jun 2026
City centre roads will close for efforts to identify and eliminate the ‘ Peterborough Pong’ this June. Bourges Boulevard is set to close for “no more than five days” from Tuesday, June 16, with works expected to take place overnight only between 8pm and 6am.
The southbound stretch of Bourges Boulevard will be closed between the Crescent Bridge roundabout and Rivergate. According to Anglian Water, the works being carried out are tankering and investigatory works to investigate the odour.
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This odour – known locally as the ‘Peterborough Pong’ – has become a regular problem, lingering around Bourges Boulevard whenever there are prolonged spells of hot and/or wet weather.
It follows an announcement in April by Anglian Water to fit specialist smell-trapping covers to drains near the Park Inn on Bourges Boulevard.
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “The nature of the work we do does mean there are smells from time to time, and hotter temperatures can make these more noticeable. Our team is carrying out investigations on our nearby sites and assets to find a solution for this odour. “
Motorists likely to be affected by the upcoming road closure are advised to use the following alternative routing: Thorpe Road, Nene Parkway, Oundle Road, London Road, Town Bridge, and Rivergate.
Glen Kelly whipped out his bagpipes on the tube home from a fan zone and said “there’s no better feeling than being Scottish”.
Scotland fans celebrate on London’s Victoria line
Scotland fans took over the London tube with bagpipes and dancing after the national team won their first World Cup match in over 30 years last night.
Jubilant scenes broke out on the Victoria Line in the early hours of Sunday morning after John McGinn took Scotland to the top of Group C with a stunning 1-0 victory over Haiti at Boston’s Gillette Stadium.
Celebrations were seen and felt across the country after Steve Clarke’s men secured their first World Cup win in 36 years – after a 28-year wait to return to the tournament – and it seems they weren’t just confined to Scotland.
A video being circulated on social media, and shared with the Record, shows revellers donning Scotland strips and kilts singing, dancing, and jumping up and down on the tube in Central London in delight after the win.
The newly christened “party line” was full of hilarity as Glen Kelly, 24, from Dundee, piped ‘Scotland the Brave’ while passengers jigged and clapped along on the moving train, much to the amusement of fellow commuters.
Speaking to the Record, Glen said: “I’d been playing at the Auld Hag Scottish fan zone. The atmosphere was bouncing, like a little Scotland. We then got the tube home and everyone was singing.
“I waited a few minutes and thought, ‘ah, go on then, I’ll give them a quick blast’. People didn’t realise I was the same person because I’d changed out my kilt so it was even more unexpected.
“I played Flower of Scotland, Caledonia and Auld Lang Syne before we all went our separate ways.
“There’s no better feeling than being Scottish.”
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The heart-warming clip has seen people from all over flood the comment section to praise the Scots’ spirit.
One commented: “God, I wish I was Scottish,” while another proudly scribed: “Scotland forever”. A third went on: “Best fans in the world,” while a fourth renamed the Victoria Line the “Scottish party line”.
Another penned: “Unreal, glad you enjoyed. No Scotland no party,” while another said: “Love it,” and a last simply wrote: “Spectacular”.
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Back home, the celebrations also continued into the wee hours, including on Great Western Road in Glasgow. Supporters poured out of pubs and houses to belt out Flower of Scotland at 4am, also led by a piper.
In a video shared online, supporters can be scene arm-in-arm belting out the national anthem. Some can be seen to stumble and stagger after enjoying a few drinks during the evening before.
The win over Haiti has Brazil and Morocco on red alert with both keenly aware there is now a three-way fight to emerge out of Group C. Scotland will next take on Morocco at the more reasonable hour of 11pm on Friday.
Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.
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Investigators are now sifting through wreckage, to determine the cause of the disaster
A dozen people are believed to have died in a plane crash, American authorities have reported.
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Officials say 11 skydivers and their pilot were killed after an aircraft crashed in Butler, Missouri in the USA on Sunday morning, sources tell FOX4.
According to a spokesperson with Bates County Emergency Management, at just before 11.30am, a private plane leaving the Butler Memorial Airport turned around for an unknown reason before crashing in the area of Business 49 Highway.
The source tells FOX4 that 11 of the 12 victims were skydivers.
The other victim was the pilot of the plane. All people on board have died, reports the Mirror.
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Emergency crews and law enforcement with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are on the scene and searching the area to see if any skydivers jumped from the plane before the crash.
Local reports have said the investigation will last multiple days as crews work to determine what led up to the crash and clear the wreckage.
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Currently, all lanes of Business 49 Highway are closed near the airport, the Bates County Sheriff’s Office said.
Both directions will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. Drivers are asked to use an alternative route.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol. posted on X: “Troopers are on scene assisting the Butler Police Department & Bates County Sheriff’s Office of a Fatal Plane Crash near the Butler Memorial Airport.
“At this time reports indicate all occupants (12 total) have perished. Updates to follow.”
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 73,000, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday, as Israeli military operations continued despite a stalled and fragile ceasefire in place since October.
Israel says it is targeting Hamas and other militants who pose a threat, and in response to ceasefire violations, including occasional attacks.
Nearly 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the ceasefire, according to the health ministry. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce.
The number of deaths since the beginning of the war is now 73,001, according to the health ministry’s tally. Over 173,200 people have been wounded since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, following the Hamas-led attack into Israel. That attack killed some 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
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The health ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up around half of all fatalities.
Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas.
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Stalled ceasefire
The U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal reached in October ended full-scale military operations and led to the return of all the remaining hostages. But other elements of the deal have stalled as Hamas has refused to disarm and Israeli troops have advanced in Gaza, rather than withdrawn. Both sides accuse the other of violating the agreement but say it is still in effect.
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Progress on all other issues — including reconstruction, Israeli troop withdrawals and the establishment of a new Palestinian government — is being held up by the deadlock over disarming Hamas, the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, has said.
The war displaced most of the Palestinian population of over 2 million, left large parts of the territory in rubble and created widespread shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies as the border crossings with Gaza — all but one controlled by Israel — slammed shut.
At least eight more Palestinians killed in the weekend
An Israeli strike on Sunday afternoon in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp killed at least four people and wounded others, according to health officials at the Shifa hospital, where the casualties were taken. An Israeli military official, who spoke anonymously in line with military guidelines, said the military “struck terrorists” in the area, without elaborating.
A 13-year-old boy was among five Palestinians killed in Gaza on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday, according to Palestinian health officials. In response to the Saturday night strike that killed two of the five, the Israeli military claimed that it was striking Hamas militants.
The works are part of a major redevelopment in the city centre
Darren Calpin, Local Democracy Reporter
18:00, 14 Jun 2026
Motorists have been warned of impending “major works” likely to cause significant traffic issues. Drivers heading into work in Peterborough recently will have seen signs on main roads warning that delays are expected.
The signage also confirms that the work is scheduled to begin on July 6 and last until summer 2027. The Queensgate roundabout is one of the busiest interchanges in the city.
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The works are likely to cause significant disruption as much of the traffic using the roundabout and surrounding area is drawn to the car parks which serve both the railway station and Queensgate Shopping Centre.
The works are part of a £1.5 million overhaul which will see two of the roundabout’s three subways filled in and then replaced with a pedestrian crossing into Cowgate. This initiative – known as ‘City Link’ – will allow people and cyclists to make use of a realigned path on raised ground level to reach the city centre.
The transformation of the Queensgate roundabout is the first phase of the £65 million Station Quarter regeneration. It aims to turn Peterborough railway station into a double-sided gateway with a new western entrance, commercial space, and enhanced cycle and pedestrian links into the city centre.
The event was held at Atherton Carnival and included members of Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan and Leigh Neighbourhood Policing Team.
As well as letting children get a closer look at their police vehicle, the teams also tried out a new fingerprinting technique to give the visitors the chance to try out their methods for themselves.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Your local Neighbourhood Policing Team were out engaging with the community, enjoying the fantastic atmosphere and community spirit.
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“We hope everyone who came to see us enjoyed a tour of our vehicle and we will ensure we are restocked with GMP stickers for the next community event.
“We have implemented a new engagement technique for children that involves the safe and supervised taking of fingerprints to increase interest and participation.
“The prints were put onto a contact card to take home as a memento.”
The Atherton Carnival also included a range of other activities for families and visitors of all ages and featured a funfair and parade.
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Appearing at the carnival is one of several public engagement events held by police officers.
Our thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one
Tributes have been paid to a retired deputy head teacher which are among the death and funeral notices from Cambridge News this week. Announcing the passing of a loved one in local news media is a long standing tradition and we are proud of the trust placed in us to make these important announcements.
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Every notice published to our newspaper and news site also appears on funeral-notices.co.uk – the UK’s number one site for death notices and memoriams. Every notice remains online forever providing friends and families with a lifelong tribute to their loved one, a safe place online to share memories, add tributes, photographs and make donations in memory.
Each week we pay tribute to the loved ones remembered in our area with a funeral notice and online tribute page. To read the latest announcements and add tributes to those from our area who have passed away, or to create a funeral notice yourself, click here. Alternatively, you can create a notice by calling our helpful team on 01482 908084.
Here are a selection of notices published earlier this week.
Death Notices
of Hauxton: Retired Deputy Head Teacher at The Perse Preparatory School. Passed away on Sunday 24th May 2026, aged 77 years. Beloved husband of the late Sheila, Much loved Dad to Caroline & Rob, father-in-Law to Jason and a loving Grandad to Jordan, Emily, and Sam. Funeral Service at Hauxton Parish Church on Tuesday 23rd June at 2.30pm followed by a private committal. Family flowers only please but if wished donations for Alzheimer’s Research UK may be sent c/o H.J. Paintin, 43 High Street, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4HS.
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Of Cottenham passed peacefully to rest on Sunday 24th May 2026 aged 97 years. A loving wife of the late Alexander, much loved Mum, Nan and Great Nan. Funeral Service to be held at the Cambridge City Crematorium on Monday 29th June 2026, 12:15pm West Chapel. Family flowers only, donations if desired made payable to East Anglian Air Ambulance may be left following the service or forwarded to Richard Stebbings Funeral Service Ltd, Kendal House, Cambridge Road, Impington, Cambridge CB24 9YS. Tel: 01223 232309
(White) The late Doris Blake sadly passed away on Sunday 24th May 2026, at Orchard House Care Home, aged 92. Family flowers only, any donations please forward to Orchard House (Orchard House Comfort Fund). Weyman’s Funerals, 26 Abbey Walk, Cambridge CB1 2QJ.
Of Cambridge. Passed away peacefully on Wednesday 13th May 2026 at home, aged 91 Years. Devoted Husband to Barbara. Dearly loved Father to Duncan and Frances. Treasured Grandfather to Rachel and Jonathan. Don shall be missed by all. Funeral service to be held on Monday 22nd June 2026 at St Andrew Street Baptist Church at 12pm. Donations, if desired, to the benefit of Youth For Christ May be made at the service or online via Donald’s personal InMemory page at www.peasgoodandskeates.co.uk 617 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8PA 01223 415255
of Cambridge, passed away peacefully on Sunday 31st May 2026, aged 93 years. Loving wife of the late Tony, a wonderful mother to Linda, Susan, Celia and Andrew. Funeral Service at St Mary’s Church, Ely on Wednesday 1st July at 2.00 pm. (Private Cremation). Smart casual clothing to be worn. Family flowers only please, but if desired, donations, made payable to R. J. Pepper Donation Account (to be shared between The Smile Train and Jimmy’s Night Shelter) may be left at the service or sent c/o R. J. Pepper & Son Family Funeral Directors, 14, Prickwillow Road, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4QT Tel: 01353 665300
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(Née Middleton) of Milton Passed away peacefully on Tuesday 19th May 2026, aged 97 years. Loving wife of the late Richard, much loved mum of Rose, Jan, Sue, Richard and Sarah and a dear mother-in-law, nana and great nana, who will be sadly missed by all her family and friends. Funeral Service at Cambridge City Crematorium, West Chapel on Thursday 25th June at 11.15 am. Family flowers only please, but if desired, donations, made payable to Arthur Rank Hospice Charity may be left at the service or sent c/o R. J. Pepper & Son Family Funeral Directors, 1, Telegraph Street, Cottenham, Cambridge, CB24 8QU. Tel: 01954 251919
At Addenbrookes Hospital on Sunday 24th May 2026, aged 93 years. Former librarian to the Department of Applied Economics, University of Cambridge. Funeral Service to be held at St Augustine Church on Friday 19th June, 1.30pm, followed by burial at St Leonard’s Church, Catworth on Monday 22nd June 2026 at 10.30am. Family flowers only please. Donations welcome to St Augustine’s Church. Mourners are asked not to wear dark colours please. Weyman’s Funeral’s 26 Abbey Walk Cambridge CB1 2QJ
John Kempton Harold Rees died peacefully on 9th May 2026 Leukaemia specialist at Addenbrookes, photographer, opera buff and lover of the arts, John was loving wife to Jan, father of Helen and Kempton, and grandfather of William, James (‘JJ’) and Dylan We are deeply grateful for the wonderful care of the staff at UHW Cardiff and at Marie Curie in Penarth For enquiries, please email jkhr@outlook.com
Peacefully at the Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge on Saturday 30th May 2026, Karen (nee Rees) aged 67 years. The dearly loved wife of Chris, devoted mum of Dale and Gareth and an adored daughter, sister, mother-in-law and friend. Funeral service and cremation at The West Suffolk Crematorium, Risby, Bury St Edmund on Thursday 25th June 2026 at 11am. Family flowers only please, donations in Karen’s memory for the Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge, can me made at the service or online to the charity. Funeral services entrusted to Woodland Wishes Funeral Services, 4 High Street, Fulbourn, Cambridge CB21 5DH
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Married to Husband of 70 years Trevor. Children Bev, Sue, Gary, and late son Butch. Son-in-laws and grandchildren. Funeral to be held on 19th June at 10:15 at Cambridge City Crematorium, in the West Chapel. Family flowers only. Any donations in June’s memory can be made to Parkinsons UK. Please join us after the service.
In Memoriams
Mum, you are the most beautiful memory we keep locked inside our hearts. Love you. Love Louis and Hayden x x x x * * * * * Maxine, I think about you always, I talk about you still, you have never been forgotten, and you never will. I hold you close within my heart and there you shall remain. Walk and guide me through my life until we meet again. Love you. Lots of love, Mum x x x x * * * * * Dear Sister, Miss you always. Love Frances and children x x
June 11th 2014 It’s 12 years since you left us and went to sleep. You are so missed darling, sleep peacefully my love. Mick xxx
To add your own tributes to the loved ones from our area, or to publish a notice for your loved one, visit funeral-notices.co.uk
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Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those we have lost.
BUTLER, Mo. (AP) — A plane carrying passengers planning to spend a sunny afternoon skydiving crashed Sunday in Missouri, killing all 12 people aboard, authorities said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a statement that troopers were on the scene, assisting the Butler Police Department & Bates County Sheriff’s Office. The crash occurred near the Butler Memorial Airport. The small town of Butler has a population of around 4,300 people and is roughly 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Kansas City.
Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt. Justin Ewing said the plane was taking people up to skydive. Emergency responders got a call that a plane was down and engulfed in fire around 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning, he said.
Emergency responders were able to extinguish the fire shortly after the crash, Ewing said, calling the scene “brutal.”
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“It landed in a field adjacent to the airport, but I think they’re shutting down the roadway just as a precaution,” Ewing said.
Teams from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration were en route to the crash site Sunday afternoon to investigate, according to the Missouri State Patrol.
The private plane was operated by Skydive Kansas City, said Dennis Jacobs, the acting airport manager and Bates County Emergency Management Agency director.
“It had just taken off and made a left turn” before the crash, Jacobs said. “In my opinion I think it was losing power, and he was trying to make it over to the highway and land, and he stalled and went down nose first and caught fire.”
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First responders have checked the area under the flight path and did not find anyone who might have tried to jump out before the crash, Jacobs said
The Pacific Aerospace 750XL that crashed is a single engine turboprop plane model that’s popular for skydiving but has also proven useful for other uses, including cargo, aerial surveying and medical evacuation flights. The aircraft can carry as many as 17 skydivers and is capable of taking off and landing on short runways. The plane that crashed Saturday was manufactured in 2010, according to FAA records.
The small airport serves around 30 aircraft, all privately owned, including crop dusting companies and sky dive operators, Ewing said.
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Sky diving companies operate in the region eight or nine months a year, with the season usually starting in late March or early April and lasting into October or November. Someone answering the phone at Skydive Kansas City declined to speak to a reporter from The Associated Press.
Singer Oliver Tree has died in a tragic helicopter crash (Picture: AFP)
Hit American singer-songwriter Oliver Tree has died in a helicopter crash in Brazil, it has been reported.
The 32-year-old alternative rock artist is best remembered for his hit songs Life Goes On, Miss You and ULTRAMAN.
According to CNN Brazil, the star was in Rio de Janeiro when the incident occurred.
The outlet reports that Tree and five others were killed when two helicopters collided above an electric vehicle yard on Sunday morning.
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According to reports, Tree and four others were in one helicopter, while only the pilot flew the other.
An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Tree was known for his distinctive ’80s style hairdo and wardrobe (Picture: WireImage)
The star was touring his latest album when he died (Picture: AFP)
Tree first rose to fame at the age of 17, working with Skrillex and Zeds Dead under the name Tree.
In 2013, he released an independent album, before taking a break to study music technology.
His debut album, Ugly Is Beautiful was released in 2020, and followed by Cowboy Tears in 2022 and Alone in a Crowd on September 29, 2023
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He was halfway through headlining a world tour four his album Love You Madly, Hate You Badly, which began in Mexico City and was set to include dates in China, Japan, Antarctica, New Zealand and South Africa.
Metro has reached out to Oliver Tree’s representatives for comment.
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A man in his 30s arrived at the Royal London Major Trauma Centre after what sounded like a relatively minor cycling accident. He had been riding a shared ebike when he lost control and fell. By the time I met him, scans had revealed a complex fracture around his ankle where his shinbone (tibia) had pierced through his skin. He would need multiple surgeries to fix his broken bone and grafting of his skin and muscles, followed by many months of rehabilitation and a prolonged period away from work.
Cases like this are becoming increasingly familiar. Colleagues in trauma centres across several countries have described seeing similar injuries after accidents involving shared ebikes. Some surgeons began referring to the pattern informally as “Lime bike leg”.
The term is not a medical diagnosis. Rather, it describes severe injuries affecting the leg, ankle and knee following crashes involving shared ebikes. While the name comes from one of the world’s largest shared ebike operators, the injuries are not unique to any particular company. They appear to be associated with the rapid growth of shared ebike use.
Most people think of cycling injuries as cuts, bruises or perhaps a broken wrist. The injuries being described as “Lime bike leg” are often much more serious. Common examples include fractures of the tibia, dislocations of the knee or ankle and severe skin and muscle loss.
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Why these injuries are different
One reason these injuries stand out is how they occur: ebikes are considerably heavier than conventional bicycles, often weighing around 30kg, and accelerate more rapidly. When riders lose control, the bicycle can fall on to the leg or trap it against the ground, creating twisting and crushing forces that are uncommon with lighter bikes. Some of the resulting injuries resemble those more often seen in motorcycle crashes.
Part of the explanation is straightforward: many more people are riding ebikes than ever before. Shared ebike schemes have expanded rapidly across cities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Ebicycles are now one of the fastest-growing forms of urban transport.
As usage has increased, so too have injuries. In London, shared ebike users now account for about 20% of serious cycling casualties, compared with about 1% less than a decade ago.
A recent US study examining almost 14,000 injuries involving bicycles, ebikes and escooters found that ebike injuries doubled between 2021 and 2022. Around 15% of injured riders required admission to hospital, while fractures were the most common injury sustained. About one-third of ebike injuries involved a collision with a motor vehicle.
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These figures need context. The overwhelming majority of journeys end safely. Lime reports that more than 99.99% of rides are completed without incident. Yet when millions of journeys are made each year, even a very small risk per ride can translate into a substantial number of serious injuries.
The vast majority of rides are completed safely. Quirky Badger/Shutterstock.com
Research suggests that severe injuries are more strongly associated with factors such as older age, alcohol use and collisions with motor vehicles than with the type of bicycle itself. Once these factors are taken into account, injured ebike riders are no more likely to require hospital admission than conventional cyclists.
That finding shifts attention towards the circumstances of the crash. Many serious injuries occur when riders are unfamiliar with the handling characteristics of ebikes. Others happen when speed is too high for conditions, particularly on wet roads, uneven surfaces or crowded streets.
Treatment depends on the injury. Minor soft-tissue injuries, involving ligaments and muscles, can often be managed with rest and physiotherapy. Fractures are a different matter, often requiring surgery using metal plates, screws, or rods to stabilise the broken bones and grafts to replace the damaged skin and muscle.
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Recovery is rarely quick. Patients may spend weeks walking with crutches and many months, often years, rebuilding strength and confidence. Some continue to experience pain, stiffness or reduced mobility long after the fracture has healed.
Mostly preventable
Many of these injuries are potentially preventable. Riders who are new to ebikes should recognise that they handle differently from conventional bicycles. The extra weight affects braking, cornering and balance – particularly at low speeds.
Many serious crashes occur without another vehicle being involved. Avoiding mobile phone use while riding and taking extra care in wet conditions may be just as important as watching out for traffic. Alcohol also features disproportionately in studies of ebike injuries.
Helmets will not prevent a broken leg. They can, however, reduce the risk of head injury, which remains one of the most common and potentially devastating consequences of cycling crashes.
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“Lime bike leg” remains an informal label rather than a recognised diagnosis. Yet behind the nickname lies a genuine clinical observation. As shared ebikes become a routine part of city life around the world, trauma surgeons are seeing a new pattern of injury emerge alongside them.
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