Laws must be introduced to end the “patchwork quilt of chaos” created on pavements by abandoned e-bikes and e-scooters, a council leader said on Monday.
Westminster council’s leader Adam Hug wrote to Transport Secretary Mark Harper pleading for legislation allowing dockless e-bikes and e-scooters to be included in the King’s Speech, which will be unveiled on Tuesday.
The Labour-run council has launched a voluntary scheme with bike hire firms that requires the cycles to be parked in designated bays, but wants legally enforceable powers – and rules on how the bikes are ridden.
It says the voluntary scheme is only a “sticking plaster solution” as any operator could pull out – or a new firm could enter the market and not abide by the rules.
The council also wants laws to be introduced to enable pedicabs to be licensed to prevent tourists being charged rip-off fees and Soho residents being disturbed nightly by their blaring music.
MPs have made three attempts in four years to introduce a law on pedicabs but nothing has made it on to the statute book.
Mr Hug said the lack of legislation meant that the council and Transport for London were “hamstrung” in efforts to safeguard pedestrians and keep pavements clear.
He wrote: “Currently, residents - particularly those with disabilities - are faced with an obstacle course of e-bikes, e-scooters and pedicabs.
“There are up to 2,000 e-bikes and hundreds of pedicabs in the borough at any given time and with no regulations around their hire, operation or ‘parking’, forcing disabled people, people with prams and other pedestrians to walk in busy roads.”
In September, the Standard revealed that dockless e-bike firm Dott was quitting London — and sending its bikes to Paris — because the capital’s bike rental market is “totally out of control”.
Dott said the failure to regulate e-bikes in a similar way to e-scooters “made no sense” and was bad for business and for people who hired the bikes.
Unlike dockless e-bikes, e-scooters are not permitted to be “free floating”, and have to be parked in a designated bay – or the “clock keeps ticking” on the cost of the ride.
Only the e-scooters hired under the Government-backed trial, which involves Dott, Voi and Lime and operates in 10 London boroughs, can be legally ridden on the streets.
Privately owned e-scooters, despite being widespread, remain illegal.
