Council officers will now step in and remove e-bikes that obstruct roads and paths, whilst issuing a charge to operators, following an increase in complaints from residents.
Local residents have become increasingly concerned about the issue of pay-to-ride e-bikes, claiming they are causing a hazard after being ‘hacked’ and ‘dumped.’
Guy Stern, who lives in Elephant and Castle said: “I notice it every day. When someone uses it without paying they make that loud noise, I guess as a warning,” he explained. “They’re breaking the law and they don’t seem to care.
“I did think they were good when they brought them in, to give people more green options for transport. But kids riding them around and dumping them should be stopped.”
Grant Davis, Chairman of the London Cab Drivers Club, based in Bermondsey, said: “It’s appalling the way the e-bikes are allowed to be dumped on the pavements and highways, with no regard for the elderly or people with mobility issues needing clear access.”
The main three private e-bike companies operating in the area are Dott, Lime and Tier. When it comes to the issue of where they are parked, all three operators said they fine users for poor parking, and ban repeat offenders from using the service.
They all said people can report the bikes on their apps and someone from their team will come and move them.
But the trouble is, if people are illegally hacking into the bikes without paying, there is no way for the company to issue them with a fine directly.
We asked the operators if they were aware of bikes being hacked and what they were doing to prevent it.
A Dott spokesperson said: “The jumpstarting issue is something we experienced and have dealt with, by securing the mechanism which was being illegally tampered with by vandals.”
And the spokesperson highlighted a new approach being taken up in Westminster: “Recently, Westminster has announced a decision to use designated parking bays for shared e-bikes. Riders will find it easier to find and park e-bikes and all city residents will benefit from a better experience on the streets.
“This is an approach that we recommend, and already operate under in other cities across Europe. We welcome collaboration with the cities we operate in and would support more boroughs moving to formal agreements with operators in this way.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for both Lime said they were also aware of the issue of criminal damage and were ‘implementing a series of measures’ to tackle it, whilst working with police to ‘identify, limit and warn against it.’
However, a Tier spokesperson claimed their bikes are not able to be jump-started: “Our e-bikes are designed differently and do not have the same vulnerability.
“When a user ends their ride they must use the integrated cable lock before they leave the e-bike. This involves a steel rod being inserted through the rear wheel, meaning it can’t be ridden. So far we have not seen any successful attempts to ‘jump-start’ our bikes.”
Despite the measures the companies claim to be taking, the problem seems to only be getting worse and the leader of the council has decided to take the matter into his own hands. Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We share the concerns the public have about how e-bikes are managed.
“I have written to all four local providers about the matter expressing our deep concern and asking them to urgently address the matter, or we will begin removing any e-bikes or scooters which obstruct the public paths or roads.
“We expect to see improvement imminently.”
The council added that their officers have already started removing e-bikes that block paths and roads. They added that they will be charging the companies for any bikes they have to remove.
