E-bike companies face fines in crackdown on cycles blocking London’s streets 

Transport for London (TfL) has launched the crackdown after repeated issues with “inconsiderately parked” rental bikes on the capital’s streets.

Under the new policy, dockless e-bike companies, which include Lime and Forest, face fines or prosecution over cycles dumped on TfL land.

This includes major London roads, as well as station and bus garage entrances.

Transport bosses say they will take a “proportionate” approach to enforcing the new policy, but warned operators that they are ultimately responsible for poorly-parked e-bikes.

It comes amid continued concerns about e-bikes in the capital. Newsquest recently reported that some neighbours in Norbiton had taken to destroying cycles after they were repeatedly abandoned in their private car park.

Brent Council threatened Lime with a ban last month after claiming it had received “repeated, regular” complaints about bikes being left strewn across paths and roads.

A last-minute deal was ultimately agreed, which included the dockless e-bike company committing to slash the size of its fleet in the borough and to fund 200 new parking bays.

TfL has now said that it will create at least 800 new parking spaces on its roads by next summer with the aim of there being 3,000 spaces on its network by the end of 2026.

Almost £1 million has been allocated to London boroughs this year to fund 7,500 new parking spaces, the transport body added.

Rental e-scooters already have to be parked in designated bays, and TfL has said its new policy “will bring e-bikes closer in line with this”.

Clive Wood, from charity Guide Dogs, has welcomed the new rules.

“We have heard from many vision-impaired people in London that they have to try and navigate around inconsiderately parked rental e-scooter and e-bikes on a regular basis,” he said.

“Introducing additional parking spaces will help to tackle the increasingly frustrating issue.  I hope operators will work with TfL to ensure the updated policy makes a difference”. 

Claire Mann, TfL’s chief operating officer, added that it was hoped the new policy would ensure that e-bikes can continue to operate “without impacting the ability of others to use and access the capital’s streets”.

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