• OVER recent months we have been working hard to make better parking arrangements for dockless e-bikes.

We have put operators on notice and asked that they enter into a formal agreement with the city council to make sure that e-bikes are only parked in designated bays (with appropriate fines for users who do not comply).

We are in talks with the operators to identify locations for e-bike parking. This will help to guide us on where bays are needed to deliver an effective scheme.

We are encouraged that operators are willing to collaborate with us to improve the situation. In the meantime we are continuing to enforce against operators when e-bikes obstructing the pavement have not been dealt with effectively.

We are also keen to ensure that there is a simple and effective way for residents, businesses, and tourists to report any obstructive and or dangerous e-bikes.

The “Report It” function now enables individuals to easily report obstructing e-bikes to us for further investigation. So far we have seized 22 e-bikes which have been identified as causing a dangerous obstruction. Because of our tough approach the operators are now issuing regular notices to riders to park the bikes responsibly.

In the longer term, we need appropriate regulation to make sure that operators act responsibly, and dockless e-bike space is appropriately regulated.

We are very disappointed by the further delay to the transport bill. This is very unhelpful, not just for us, but for residents and cyclists in London generally. As a result of the government’s long-promised, but not delivered, plans to legislate, a by-law is not an option.

Despite the government’s failure to deliver, we are in contact with the Department for Transport to discuss the measures needed to better regulate e-bikes and we will continue to press the government to get this done.

On a more positive note, we are working with the Mayor of London who has introduced 500 Santander docked e-bikes in London, including in Westminster, and we are looking to identify a site in the West End where the mayor can introduce a new hub where the Santander e-bikes can recharge while awaiting hire.

CLLR PAUL DIMOLDENBERG
Cabinet Member for City Management & Air Quality
City Hall, Victoria Street, SW1