Since the beginning of the year, a total of 1,000 rental e-bikes have been confiscated by a council in West London.

Kensington and Chelsea Council announced that it has been removing what it deemed as poorly parked bicycles since January, following complaints from residents about trip hazards and obstructed pavements and roads.

E-bikes from Lime, Forest, Bolt, and Voi have been taken off the streets and placed into secure storage.

Lime and Forest, two prominent e-bike providers in the capital, previously expressed their dedication to enhancing their services and addressing issues related to blocking pavements.

So far, the council has collected over £81,000 in fees associated with the seizure and storage of the e-bikes from these operators. This revenue is being reinvested to strengthen enforcement efforts.

According to Johnny Thalassites, the council’s lead member for planning and environment, local residents are “fed up” with the obstruction caused by bicycles on roads and pavements.

He noted that the council has now confiscated 1,000 improperly parked bikes, leading to more frequent clearing of designated parking bays by operators.

“E-bikes have surged in popularity and serve as a convenient mode of transportation, yet the regulations are not keeping pace,” the Conservative councillor stated.

“For the long term, we require guidance from the government on managing the demand and operations from service providers.”

Since July, the council’s street enforcement team has been strengthened with additional personnel from Kingdom Local Authority Support, a private contractor that supplies enforcement officers to local councils.

These officers respond to residents’ reports and conduct patrols, especially in high-traffic areas like Harrods.

Bikes are removed under the Highways Act when they block sidewalks, are at risk of tipping over, or pose a safety threat to road users.

Kensington and Chelsea features 246 designated e-bike parking bays, which is a small fraction compared to approximately 3,000 across London.

When bicycles are left outside designated bays but are not obstructing, the operators are notified and given a window of two to six hours to relocate them; failure to comply could result in further seizures.

In response to parking concerns, a Lime spokesperson informed BBC London last month that they acknowledge the significant challenges posed by e-bike parking and strive to ensure that their bikes do not hinder anyone.

The company mentioned that it has contributed to the establishment of more than 3,250 parking bays in London, increased its on-the-ground team, and continues to collaborate with local councils.