London removes 3,393 improperly parked or abandoned e-bikes
London boroughs in the United Kingdom have removed 3,393 e-bikes that were dangerously parked or abandoned since the start of the year. This is 23% more than in all of 2025, The Guardian reports.
Seizure data
According to data from 19 local authorities, the largest number of removed bicycles belonged to Lime — more than 2,000. A total of 978 Forest bikes and 103 Voi bikes were removed.
The publication submitted freedom of information requests to 21 London boroughs that have contracts with dockless bike-hire operators, as well as to the City of London administration. Nine authorities said they had neither removed bicycles nor fined operators. Three others either did not respond within the required time limit or said they did not hold the relevant data.
According to Transport for London estimates, one in 10 of the city’s 1.5 million daily bicycle journeys is made on dockless e-bikes. At the same time, campaigners say that bicycles left on pavements and roads obstruct the safe movement of pedestrians, wheelchair users, older people and people with visual impairments.
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Parking and regulation
Hire operators say the number of designated parking spaces is not keeping pace with demand for rental e-bikes. Lime stressed that it is the city’s largest operator and that most removals took place near overcrowded parking locations. Forest also said it was working with London boroughs to encourage responsible parking.
A Voi representative said that the company’s vehicles must not block access routes, pavements, entrances or emergency passageways. Local councils, in turn, point to the need for unified regulation across the capital, as rules and operators vary from borough to borough.
The devolution law in England, adopted in April, gives local authorities new powers to license rental e-bike operators and set requirements for parking, safety and accessibility. In London, these powers are to be granted to Transport for London, which is expected to develop a unified regulatory framework for dockless bike-hire operators.
