Councils told they should charged e-bike firms for be told for abandoned e-bikes

The government has urged local authorities across Britain to mandate that e-bike hire companies cover the costs of removing abandoned bicycles from pavements.

Transport minister Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill backed the proposal, agreeing with peers that councils should follow the example set by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The London borough has successfully charged firms including Lime and Human Forest more than £200,000 in fees over the last 18 months for the retrieval of discarded bikes.

This push comes as members of the House of Lords voiced concerns over bikes being left on pavements, creating significant hazards for pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

Additionally, peers in the House of Lords have called for the government to implement insurance schemes to provide cover for individuals injured by illegal e-bike and e-scooter riders.

Crossbench peer Lord Krebs said: “Where I live in Oxford, one of the problems with e-bikes and e-scooters is that all too often they’re dumped on the footpath, blocking the way particularly for mothers with prams and pushchairs and for elderly people and the sight impaired.

“In this context I note that Kensington and Chelsea council in the last 18 months have removed over 2,500 illegally parked e-bikes and e-scooters and charged the operators £210,000 for doing so.

“Does the minister think that other councils, including Oxfordshire County Council should follow the lead of Kensington and Chelsea?”

Lord Hendy replied: “I do.”

Kensington and Chelsea council has said it has seized more than 1,200 hire bikes causing “immediate danger of significant obstruction” during 2026.

It said it had charged Lime, Human Forest, Voi and Bolt a total of £210,098 since January 2025 as it said the bikes “cannot come at the expense of safe, accessible streets”.

It said it will remove bikes that are lying across the pavement, those that are likely to fall on pedestrians, or bikes that force pedestrians to step into the road.

Shadow transport minister Lord Moylan, a former deputy chairman of Transport for London, said e-bikes had turned British city streets into “shoddy and tawdry” sights.

“What they’ve been turned into is sort-of great parking lots of bikes for the benefit of private companies,” he said.

In response to questions about the danger posed to pedestrians, Lord Hendy said the Government could bring in insurance requirements as part of its English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Liberal Democrat Lord Storey recalled the case of Sandy Peters, who suffered serious facial injuries when she was hit in south London last year.

Ms Peters was unable to claim back any of the £10,000 worth of dental surgery because there was no rider liability insurance, the peer said.

He said: “Does the minister not think it’s time to sort out the problems of e-bikes and e-scooters once and for all?”

Lord Hendy replied: “As part of the powers that the Government has taken for shared cycles, we will have powers to set insurance requirements. No decisions have yet been taken but we will consult over that.”

He added: “Hire schemes do need some rules, and that legislation enables us to set them.”