Crackdown launched on dumped rental bikes blighting zones like one around Harrods
A crackdown on rental e-bikes being abandoned in the street has led to 42 bikes being seized so far in Kensington and Chelsea.
The initiative has seen enforcement officers removing dumped bikes where they are in dangerous and obstructive positions in accordance with the Highways Act.
A total of 30 Lime bikes and 12 Forest bikes were seized from locations around the borough. Kensington and Chelsea council’s street enforcement team used an electric vehicle to collect bikes and take them to a secure storage location, before invoicing the operators for the removal and storage of each bike.
Both operators have paid fees to the council of more than £3,000 to cover the costs of storing the bikes and releasing them, with all 42 now returned.
The enforcement has been boroughwide, but one reoccurring hotspot for complaints was Walton Place, near Harrods. Following enforcement action, Lime and Forest are now attending the bay more regularly and complaints from residents have reduced almost entirely.
This comes after a Transport for London announcement in November 2024 that they will consider enforcement action where bikes are abandoned.
Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning and public realm, said: “We remain supportive of rental e-bikes but there is a line. Where abandoned bikes are putting pedestrians and drivers in danger we are acting now to remove them.
“It takes a fair amount of officer time to enforce in this way, so I am relieved that the trial has shown that operators are willing to cough up to cover the costs of seizing and storing their bikes.
“The truth is we cannot catch every single bike and I hope operators realise that a better solution for everyone is for them to act more quickly to clear obstructions and to incentivise respectful and considerate rider behaviour.”
There are 254 rental e-bike parking bays in Kensington and Chelsea, with 187 marked bays and the rest virtual bays visible via provider apps. The borough was one of the first to introduce parking bays to try tackle bikes randomly abandoned. The first 128 bays were introduced in 2023 with more added in 2024.
The enforcement action will continue.
Lime and Forest have been contacted for comment.
Pictured top: Council operators removing offending bikes (Picture: KC council)