My days littering London with e-bikes

Published: 05 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A recent experiment in London has highlighted the growing problem of e-bike clutter and poor parking enforcement, raising concerns about pedestrian safety, accessibility, and urban planning. Over the course of a week, a reporter tested hire e-bikes from companies including Lime, Forest, Voi, and Bolt, deliberately leaving them in obstructive and absurd locations across the city to see how effectively operators enforced parking rules.

The results were eye-opening. Bikes were abandoned in the middle of zebra crossings, across pavements, on double yellow lines, and even blocking fire exits. In nearly every instance, the apps approved the locations once mandatory photographs were submitted, allowing the bikes to remain locked and temporarily clutter the streets. Only Lime issued a warning in one particularly egregious case, highlighting a general lack of immediate enforcement in the dockless e-bike sector.

Campaigners representing disabled people, including wheelchair users and the visually impaired, have long warned about the dangers of haphazardly parked e-bikes. These heavy, lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles can weigh as much as a two-seater sofa, and poorly parked bikes create obstacles for the elderly, parents with prams, and those relying on tactile paving for navigation.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has previously described London’s dockless e-bike and e-scooter scene as a “Wild West” environment, acknowledging the difficulty of regulating the sector as it expands faster than the infrastructure designed to accommodate it. Some councils have increased fines and issued final warnings to operators, but evidence suggests enforcement remains inconsistent.

During the test, bikes were deliberately parked in sensitive and dangerous areas. In Old Street, a Forest e-bike was left blocking a bus stop, on benches, and across a pavement near a primary school – yet the system approved the locations. A Lime bike was parked on a speed bump in Hammersmith, and Bolt’s bikes could be left blocking pavements despite GPS geofencing intended to restrict parking to designated areas.

Of particular concern were instances where e-bikes obstructed textured paving for the visually impaired, posing serious safety risks. One Voi bike blocked a tactile crossing, and Forest approved a bike left directly on top of a zebra crossing. Fire exits, critical for public safety, were also disregarded, with multiple bikes locked in front of clearly marked exits outside Holland Park Tube station.

Freedom of Information data from Transport for London revealed that in the year to January 2026, Lime received 447 fines and Forest 216 for bikes left on red routes, showing that even on major thoroughfares, enforcement is inconsistent and slow. Observers noted that while hire companies claim to monitor parking and take corrective action, this is often applied retrospectively, meaning hazardous parking goes unaddressed for hours or days.

E-bike operators defended their practices, highlighting automated app checks, GPS geo-fencing, and manual reviews as part of their safety and enforcement measures. Lime pointed to over 1,100 funded parking bays in London and described mis-parked bikes as a challenge due to growing rider demand. Forest emphasised that enforcement could be applied retroactively and called for more designated parking spaces. Voi claimed that 95% of rides ended compliantly, while Bolt stressed that photographs are screened automatically and then manually reviewed when necessary.

Despite these measures, the experiment underscores a systemic problem: rapid e-bike adoption is outpacing infrastructure, leaving streets vulnerable to congestion and hazards. Campaigners insist that unless stricter regulation, more designated parking, and faster enforcement are implemented, vulnerable pedestrians will continue to bear the brunt of an industry prioritising convenience and profit over public safety.

The week-long test highlights the broader debate about urban micromobility: while dockless e-bikes are marketed as environmentally friendly alternatives to cars, their uncontrolled presence on streets and pavements threatens accessibility and safety. The findings suggest that cities must balance the benefits of micromobility with regulations and infrastructure that protect all residents, particularly the most vulnerable.

As London continues to embrace electric hire vehicles, the experiment serves as a stark reminder that technology alone cannot solve urban mobility challenges. Enforcement, planning, and public accountability remain essential to ensure streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.

Read More At>>