The Mayor of London has urged the Department for Transport (DfT) to speed up its issuing of regulations that are preventing city-wide licensing and regulation applying to e-bike hire schemes across the capital.
Two weeks ago, ebiketips reported that plans for a London-wide approach, to replace the present patchwork borough-by-borough approach, would be delayed by DfT plans to hold a public consultation on the policy. The English Devolution Act, which became law in April earlier this year, gives the Mayor of London power to determine the licensing and regulation of e-bikes across the city. However, the relevant powers to introduce city-wide licensing are reliant on the DfT separately setting out additional regulations.
> Plans for London-wide e-bike hire licences delayed by impending public consultation
Now, the Mayor’s office is upping the pressure on the DfT to “move quickly” to enable the city to address dockless e-bike concerns including “poor parking, unsafe riding, collisions, and limited protection for those injured in incidents involving hire bikes.”
“The ‘Wild West’ approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue.” Lord Khan said. “While these services are helping thousands more Londoners to cycle, their rapid growth has also brought challenges around safety, inconsiderate parking, and the lack of data needed to properly manage them.
“For too long, cities have been left without the tools needed to properly manage these services, despite clear evidence that the current approach is not working. It’s now vital that the Department for Transport moves quickly to bring forward the secondary legislation needed to make these powers a reality. London cannot afford further delays.”
As well as calling for the government to speed up its legislation, Khan has also stated his ambitions for London wide e-bike hire to “harness London’s cycling boom” whilst also “building a sustainable financial future” for the micromobility (e-bike and e-scooter) market.
> London council starts impounding electric hire bikes… again
> Westminster MP in showdown talks with Lime over “reckless” e-bike use on pavements
Several major e-bike hire providers have welcomed the Mayor’s announcement, with a city-wide licensing system likely to enable each operator to significantly expand their operations across the city to a wider customer base.
Stef Lehmann, Regional Head for Government Relations at Lime UK and Ireland, said, “We support citywide regulation for shared e-bikes, giving riders and boroughs one consistent approach across London instead of a “patchwork” of rules to navigate.
“Shared e-bikes have transformed city travel by adding a reliable, accessible, and sustainable way to get around – unlocking healthy journeys that otherwise may never have been made.
“To keep pace with demand, we’re working closely with TfL, boroughs, and the Government on what a well-managed future service would look like. This will offer councils across the country the clarity and resources they need to encourage even more people into cycling, while also making shared e-bikes work for everyone in their communities.”
Christina Moe Gjerde, Vice President for rival operator Voi, described the mayor’s intervention as “welcome” and that it’s “long-past time for London to have a sensible, city-wide set of rules on dockless e-bikes.
“London is the last major city in Europe to regulate and set a vision for opening access to e-bikes and e-scooters, meaning Londoners are losing out on investment and opportunities for growth. The Government needs to get on and use the new powers by publishing the necessary secondary legislation and ensuring TfL can swiftly move forward with implementation.”
So far, individual boroughs have signed contracts, or a memorandum of understanding, with operators who pay individual boroughs for the right to operate in the area. However, the system means commuters are restricted as to where in the city they can travel and park their e-bike, creating bottlenecks and overflowing parking spaces near borough boundaries.
The existing approach has also been open to exploitation from hire bike providers, who have continued operating in spite of their contracts with boroughs expiring. Voi said it wouldn’t be fair to “deprive council residents of the cheapest per-minute dockless e-bike rental service in London”, despite losing out on a council agreement to Lime and Forest. The mayor’s proposed licensing is intended to close this legal loophole.
The mayor’s statement comes on the same day as the permanent pedestrianisation of Oxford Street was confirmed to be introduced from Monday 26th October. Cyclists will also be banned from riding along the busy shopping street, with anti-terrorism barriers deployed to enforce the restricted access.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Lord Khan said two public consultations had shown around 70 percent of local residents were supportive of the proposal, though Westminster Council has claimed the traffic-free street would increase surrounding congestion.
5 thoughts on ““The ‘Wild West’ approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue”: Sadiq Khan sets out plan for regulating London bikeshare schemes, urging Department for Transport to act fast to “make these powers a reality””
Two Sadiq Khan mentions in a day…the resident troll’s w*nkbank will be bursting at the seams.
Hmm… getting the companies under control is one thing, but I wonder if the flow of cash is the wrong way round to do that most effectively here?
The correct question as always is “who’s the biggest funder and how will that motivate how the scheme is run?”
The boroughs / central authority will be minded to “make it work for the hire companies” if they’re getting paid, no?
The scheme users are paying the hire companies, but unless something is different here from all other public cycle hire schemes they won’t be covering the costs.
Is it advertising (including selling users’ data), or venture capital, or what? And is that likely to make for better streets, or not so much?
Fine to park two rows of cars down my street but one or two bike?! Shock horror
@Zjtm231 I completely agree. So many streets around me have cars perpetually parked on one or both sides, effectively losing a lane of highway each way, and nobody even seems to be aware of the impact, but someone leaves a lime bike lying on its side and everyone loses their minds. I think the other point to make is that badly parked lime bikes are almost always left by thieves who take them without paying for them, or by hacking them. Anyone who actually uses lime bikes will know that they simply don’t let you end the ride, unless and until you send them a photo of it parked neatly in a location where parking is permitted. So further outlawing/restricting hire bikes won’t have any effect, because people who break the law don’t take account of said further laws/restrictions.
@Zjtm231 I completely agree. So many streets around me have cars perpetually parked on one or both sides, effectively losing a lane of highway each way, and nobody even seems to be aware of the impact, but someone leaves a lime bike lying on its side and everyone loses their minds. I think the other point to make is that badly parked lime bikes are almost always left by thieves who take them without paying for them, or by hacking them. Anyone who actually uses lime bikes will know that they simply don’t let you end the ride, unless and until you send them a photo of it parked neatly in a location where parking is permitted. So further outlawing/restricting hire bikes won’t have any effect, because people who break the law don’t take account of said further laws/restrictions.