Key facts
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan is being urged to establish a city-wide licensing scheme for dockless e-bikes.
- New government legislation has granted TfL powers to regulate e-bike operators regarding parking, safety, and accessibility.
- Concerns have been raised about e-bikes blocking pavements and creating accessibility issues, particularly for visually or mobility-impaired individuals.
- Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 dockless e-bikes are estimated to be in operation across London.
- TfL is collaborating with London boroughs to develop a consistent licensing framework.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing pressure to implement a unified licensing scheme for dockless e-bikes across the capital, as current regulations are described as a 'patchwork' leading to issues with parking and accessibility. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, passed earlier this year, has provided Transport for London (TfL) with new powers to create a single regulatory framework for e-bike operators.
Assembly Member Elly Baker, the Labour group's transport lead on the London Assembly, highlighted that the current situation is a 'Wild West' with bikes often parked on pavements, causing a nuisance and hindering accessibility, particularly for those with visual or mobility impairments. She stated that TfL and boroughs previously lacked sufficient powers to manage operators effectively.
These new powers allow TfL to license operators, potentially cap the number of bikes on streets, and dictate parking locations, with fines for non-compliance. TfL has welcomed the legislation and is working with London's boroughs to develop proposals for a consistent, London-wide licensing scheme. Figures suggest that between 40,000 and 50,000 dockless e-bikes are available for hire in the capital at any given time, accounting for about 10% of daily cycling trips.