Westminster council holding dumped dockless bikes hostage to ‘clear up their mess’

By Hannah Neary, Local Democracy Reporter

A council is seizing dockless bikes as some of the capital’s busiest streets have turned into an “obstacle course”.

Westminster City council has started taking bikes that have been dumped on pavements in a bid to make streets safer for walkers and disabled residents.

The Labour-led council recently called for rented bike companies to “clear up their mess”, but has now decided to take things a step further.

The authority now plans to take the abandoned bikes hostage and charge hire companies if they want to reclaim them, with the money raised being spent on cycling infrastructure.

Westminster councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said: “The council has begun seizing dockless bikes that we find blocking pavements and roads in Westminster.

“Trying to walk down some of our streets has become like attempting an obstacle course and we are fed up finding these bikes dumped across the city.

“Anyone in town this summer will see these cycles abandoned. It’s a nuisance and potentially dangerous, especially for those with disabilities.

“We’ve contacted the major dockless bike operators and made it clear that if they don’t remove their bikes from the pavement the council will – and we’ll charge them for doing so.”

He added: “Westminster City council is supportive of cycling and the many benefits it brings, particularly when it comes to cleaning up air quality.

“We want to find a solution that works for everyone but, in the meantime, people living and visiting Westminster shouldn’t have to put up with this every day.”

In a statement, the council said there has been a “spike” in the number of bikes dumped across the city this summer, with “hundreds” left in the middle of pavements each day.

It added: “Dockless bikes are regularly found blocking pedestrian crossings and obstructing the pavement – forcing pedestrians and wheelchair-users to move into the road and putting their safety at risk.

“In recent weeks, the council has attempted to engage with the major dockless bike operators and still hopes to find a solution which improves cycling in the city but has been inundated with complaints about blocking access to pavements roads.

“The severity of the issue has grown throughout the year with people returning to the city following the end of Covid restrictions.”

Pictured top: Dockless Bike seized by Westminster City Council (Picture: Westminster City council)