Councils told they should charged e-bike firms for be told for abandoned e-bikes
The government has called on local authorities across Britain to require e-bike rental companies to cover the cost of removing abandoned bikes from pavements.
Transport minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill backed the proposal, agreeing with colleagues that councils should follow the example set by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
The London borough has charged firms including Lime and Human Forest more than £200,000 to take back bikes thrown away in the last 18 months.
The move comes as members of the House of Lords voiced concerns about bicycles being left on pavements, creating serious dangers for pedestrians, especially disabled people.
In addition, his colleagues in the House of Lords called on the government to introduce insurance schemes to cover people injured by illegal e-bike and e-scooter riders.
Crossbench peer Lord Krebs said: “Where I live in Oxford, one of the problems with e-bikes and e-scooters is that they are often thrown onto the pavements, blocking the path of mothers, the elderly and the visually impaired, especially those with pushchairs and strollers.
“In this regard, I would like to point out that Kensington and Chelsea council has removed more than 2,500 illegally parked e-bikes and e-scooters in the last 18 months, charging operators £210,000 for this.
“Does the Minister think other councils, including Oxfordshire County Council, should follow Kensington and Chelsea’s lead?”
Lord Hendy replied: “Yes.”
Kensington and Chelsea council said more than 1,200 rental bikes were seized throughout 2026, leading to a “serious risk of blockage”.
Stating that bikes “cannot come at the expense of safe, accessible streets”, it said it had received a total of £210,098 in charges from Lime, Human Forest, Voi and Bolt since January 2025.
He said bicycles sitting on the pavement, likely to fall on pedestrians or forcing pedestrians to step onto the road, will be removed.
Shadow transport secretary Lord Moylan, a former deputy chairman of Transport for London, said e-bikes were turning British city streets into “shoddy and vulgar” scenes.
“These have kind of turned into great bike parks for the benefit of private companies,” he said.
In response to questions about the danger to pedestrians, Lord Hendy said the Government could introduce insurance requirements as part of the British Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
Liberal Democrat Lord Storey recalled the case of Sandy Peters, who suffered serious facial injuries when she was shot in south London last year.
The peer said Ms Peters was unable to claim back any of her £10,000 worth of dental surgery because she did not have driver’s liability insurance.
“Doesn’t the Minister think it’s time for the problems with e-bikes and e-scooters to be solved radically?”
Lord Hendy replied: “Under the powers the Government has taken for shared cycles, we will have the power to set insurance requirements. No decisions have been made yet but we will consult on this.”
He added: “Recruitment plans need some rules and this legislation allows us to set those.”
