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New law to end 'scourge' of badly parked bikes

BBC A street in London with dozens of hire bikes all over the pavement. A shop and a modern block of flats are in the background. BBC
Transport for London may introduce city-wide regulations on hire bikes

Local transport authorities across England are set to be given new powers which includes regulating bike hire schemes, in plans published by ministers on Monday allowing for more devolution.

In London, where transport powers are already in place, this will allow Transport for London (TfL) to introduce city-wide regulations.

Westminster City Council has welcomed the proposed new law on cycle regulation, saying that "our pavements are at points a dumping ground for abandoned bikes".

Council leader Adam Hug said bikes dumped on pavements can cause problems for people with visual impairments, wheelchair users and others with special needs.

Reuters A park in autumn with orange leaves on the ground and around a dozen green hire bikes clustered together. One bike is on its side on the ground. In the background is a row of white Victorian houses and more green hire bikes on the pavement. Reuters
The plans will mean bike hire schemes can be regulated on a city-wide basis

He said: "The e-bike and scooter phenomenon exploded over recent years, to the point where Westminster has the most e-bike journeys in the world, with over 2,800 bikes per hour peddling around our streets per hour at peak times."

Hug said the failure of previous legislation "left us with a patchwork quilt of different schemes across the capital, and e-bikes don't navigate by local authority boundaries".

The government proposes to allow local transport authorities like TfL to regulate "on-street micro mobility schemes (like hire bikes), so local areas can shape these schemes around their needs, connect people to public transport, and tackle the scourge of badly parked cycles and e-cycles".

A tunnel in the Elizabeth line system with people walking along in the background. In the foreground is a poster advertising the opening of the new Elizabeth line.
The government praised London's successful transport network

The government's white paper, which is a proposal for new laws, says London "led the world with the introduction of integrated ticketing and other city-wide policies" and the city's integrated transport powers are a model for what they want to achieve in other English cities".

It added: "TfL has transformed customer service through a broad programme including simplified fares, Oyster and contactless ticketing, staff development, investing in new trains and upgrading stations.

"The devolution of responsibilities for the Tube and light rail in London, along with a small number of heavy rail routes and services has been a particular success, having led to greater investment, higher levels of passenger satisfaction, and more frequent and reliable services."

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