Dockless E-bikes continue to be parked outside designated bays, provoking anger from Merton Council
A South London Council has threatened to seize rental e-bikes if Wimbledon crowds continue to flout the rules. Merton Council says a small number of Lime and Forest riders have ignored parking rules when travelling to the grand slam tennis tournament.
All dockless e-bikes must be parked in designated bays, which were brought in last year to prevent pavements and roads from being blocked. The All England Lawn Tennis Club has designated a space in its car park as a drop-off and pick-up point, while regular parking bays have been temporarily widened in Wimbledon Park and Village.
Anyone who repeatedly breaks Lime and Forest’s parking rules risks being banned from their services, while Merton has reminded both companies about their contractual obligation to clear full parking bays
Councillor Stuart Neaverson, cabinet member for transport and cleaner streets, said: “Earlier today, I held a productive meeting with Lime and Forest in Wimbledon.
“We are committed to making a success of e-bikes in Merton, but we will not accept poorly parked bikes that harm our community. I welcome the commitment of both companies to work with us to manage these bays properly, including making changes to their apps to make the rules even clearer.
“We will be closely monitoring the situation over the coming days, and will seize bikes should serious safety issues emerge.
“Whilst we’re vigilant to ensure our streets stay clear and safe, I don’t want to lose sight of how great it is to see so many people cycling their way to the Championships. It is a privilege to host the world’s favourite tennis tournament, and I’m proud to see sustainable travel at the heart of it.”
Forest said it has been working closely with Merton Council in recent months to prepare for the tournament and has deployed an operational team to the area.
A Lime spokesperson added: “Planning for the tournament is always a key moment in the calendar for our teams. Each year we install dedicated, staffed parking bays on the Club’s grounds, and this year we’ve also worked with the Council to increase the number of temporary parking bays in areas of high demand such as tube and train stations in Wimbledon Village. We have also increased on-the-ground Lime staffing to keep vehicles parked neatly and safely throughout the day.”
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