A London council has confiscated over 100 rental e-bikes that were blocking sidewalks or roadways.
The City of London Corporation stated that the e-bikes are being kept in “a secure location” as part of a two-week operation.
While the corporation has existing agreements with rental e-bike companies regarding proper parking, it decided to initiate this enforcement action due to numerous complaints about e-bikes being abandoned in inappropriate locations.
Two major e-bike providers in the city, Lime and Forest, have pledged to enhance their services, as reported by the local authority.
The companies were allowed to retrieve their e-bikes after paying a fee to cover the costs associated with “removal and storage.”
The council has announced plans for an additional 300 designated parking areas for e-bikes within the City of London.
Shravan Joshi, who leads the corporation’s planning and transportation committee, acknowledged the “clear challenges posed by bikes cluttering our pavements.”
He also emphasized that the authority will maintain pressure on operators to ensure their efforts to promote proper parking for e-bikes are “measurable and effective.”
“The action plan from Lime is encouraging, especially the funded initiative aimed at ensuring dockless bikes remain available on London’s streets without posing disruptions and hazards to others,” he remarked.
