£100 on-the-spot fines for e-bikes abandoned on pavements ..
.. in Westminster. Story 141
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Westminster Council has begun issuing £100 on-the-spot fines to e-bike operators Lime and Forest whose vehicles are left blocking pavements or public spaces. It’s the first local authority in Britain to do so.
According to the The Standard
Westminster Council says the radical new approach has resulted in 150 fines being emailed direct to the firms since last week.
The Labour-run council believes issuing fixed penalty notices will be more effective in tackling the problem of dumped dockless e-bikes than having its staff seize and impound the battery-powered cycles.
It is thought Westminster is the first council in the UK to use these powers. If Westminster continue to issue fixed penalty notices at this rate, it will result in fines of £1 million over the course of a year.
Notes & thoughts
Shared E-bikes, such as those provided by Lime or Forest, are a critical part of London life, especially for younger Londoners under the age of 30. They are probably key to the Mayor delivering on his Transport Strategy, which aims to cut car use and boost active travel.
We need more of them.
But we also need better behaviour from riders and accountability from operators.
Westminster’s fines could prove a turning point: a recognition that service providers, not just users, have the power to curb bad parking and clutter. If the fines become sufficiently large operators will have no choice but to either share the financial strain with their riders or, more likely, start to manage their behaviour more stringently.
If other councils adopted similar measures, together they might be able to reshape London’s dockless ecosystem.
One other point. Unlike buses or the Tube, dockless bikes are regulated borough by borough, not by Transport for London. That patchwork can frustrate riders but it also creates room for experimentation. Westminster’s move shows what local innovation can look like when councils use their powers decisively.
Richmond council needs to address the problem of pavement clutter. It has the authority. Westminster provides a precedent. What will it do?
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Notes & thoughts
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