‘Fed up’ Council begins seizing dockless bikes blocking pavements

• Westminster City Council hopes to charge operators to reclaim the bikes with money raised to be spent on cycle infrastructure

• Some roads like ‘an obstacle course’ this summer

Westminster City Council has begun seizing dockless bicycles left strewn on roads and pavements across central London.

The move follows a spike in bikes being dumped across the city throughout the summer. Westminster is seeing hundreds of dockless bikes abandoned in the middle of the pavement every day, creating a significant safety risk - particularly for disabled and elderly residents or visitors.

Dockless bikes are regularly found blocking pedestrian crossings and obstructing the pavement – forcing pedestrians and wheelchair-users to move into the road and putting their safety at risk.

In recent weeks, the council has attempted to engage with the major dockless bike operators and still hopes to find a solution which improves cycling in the city but has been inundated with complaints about blocking access to pavements roads. The severity of the issue has grown throughout the year with people returning to the city following the end of Covid restrictions.

Westminster City Council has encouraged cycling to improve the health and wellbeing of residents and to reduce carbon emissions; for example, the council currently offers free cycling training to anyone who lives, works or studies in Westminster. But the council also wants to end the current ‘free-for-all’ on dockless bikes and for dockless bike operators to take responsibility for their infrastructure.

Council officers have now been instructed to remove and seize any bikes which are causing dangerous obstructions to pavements and roads. The council is also looking at options to charge operators the cost of removing the bikes, with the money being reinvested in cycling infrastructure.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality, said:

“The council has begun seizing dockless bikes that we find blocking pavements and roads in Westminster. Trying to walk down some of our streets has become like attempting an obstacle course and we are fed up finding these bikes dumped across the city.

“Anyone in town this summer will see these cycles abandoned. It’s a nuisance and potentially dangerous, especially for those with disabilities.

“We’ve contacted the major dockless bike operators and made it clear that if they don’t remove their bikes from the pavement the council will - and we’ll charge them for doing so.

“Any money we raise will go towards improving cycling infrastructure on our streets.

“Westminster City Council is supportive of cycling and the many benefits it brings, particularly when it comes to cleaning up air quality. We want to find a solution that works for everyone but, in the meantime, people living and visiting Westminster shouldn’t have to put up with this every day.”

• There is currently no agreement in place for dockless bikes to park in Westminster.

• The council has received dozens of complaints in recent weeks about dockless bikes blocking pavements and pedestrian crossings.

• The council has powers under section 149 the Highways Act to remove any dangerous obstructions from roads or pavements.

• An obstruction can be deemed dangerous if it is left in the middle of a high foot fall public footway; left in such a manner that if a person with disabilities would be obstructed or it could cause them injury consider wheelchair users and visually impaired people; or a narrow pavement forcing members of the public to walk into the live carriageway.

• City Inspectors have been instructed to locate any bikes which are causing a dangerous obstruction and remove them.

• The council is considering options to charge dockless bike operators for removing the bikes from Westminster, the proceeds of which will be invested in cycling facilities for the benefit of residents.

• On 28 July, the council wrote to the major dockless bike operators: Tier, Lime, Human Forest and Dott, to remind them of their responsibilities to pedestrians and road users. The council wants to work constructively with the operators but will take action in the meantime to keep pavements clear.

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