London councils seize 3,393 ebikes in 2026, exceeding all of 2025

Lime accounts for over 2,000 seizures as TfL prepares licensing rules

The 3,393 ebike seizures recorded by London boroughs in the first nine months of 2026 already exceed the number seized during all of 2025, according to freedom of information responses provided by 19 of the 22 authorities contacted by the Guardian. The figures represent hazardously parked or abandoned ebikes removed from public spaces, as hire companies face growing calls to prevent their bicycles from blocking pavements and roads.

The data covers London’s 21 boroughs with dockless bike contracts plus the City of London. Of the 22 authorities contacted, nine said they had not seized or fined any bike operators, and three either did not reply within the deadline or said they did not hold the information.

Lime, the California-based rental company, accounted for the bulk of the seizures, with more than 2,000 recorded so far this year. Forest, a rival operator, ranked second at 978 seizures, while Voi followed with 103. The Guardian’s analysis arrives as dockless ebikes have become an established feature of London’s transport mix, accounting for about one in 10 of the 1.5 million daily cycle journeys in the capital, according to Transport for London estimates.

The accessibility concerns driving the enforcement actions have been documented by disability and pedestrian-safety groups. Zak Viney, of the campaign group Living Streets, said irresponsibly parked ebikes cause widespread problems. “It prevents people from walking and wheeling on the street safely,” he said.

Erik Matthies, policy lead at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said the rise in abandoned ebikes is overwhelming blind and partially sighted people, elderly people and wheelchair users. “People are having collisions and injuries due to bikes left on the pavement, and the problem is getting worse,” Matthies said. “There are blind people who tell us they do not go out on their own any more and they do not make journeys that they used to.”

James Slater, a councillor in Camden, said ebikes have been left in resident parking bays and have obstructed traffic on roads. “During the solar eclipse we had swarms of ebikes around Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath,” he said. “The operators have a responsibility to make sure the bikes are not causing a public nuisance.”

Slater characterized the patchwork of regulation across London as a “jigsaw puzzle.” “We need to have a London-wide approach,” he said. “It’s very difficult for 32 councils in London to all have slightly different policies, and in some cases different operators on borough boundaries.”

The bike operators have argued that councils have not invested sufficiently in parking bays, which they say could prevent the buildup of poorly parked bicycles. Lime, the largest operator by volume, said its size should be taken into account when considering the seizure numbers and that the incidents mostly occurred at overcrowded parking bays.

“The vast majority of our riders end their trips responsibly, and a very small proportion of total rides result in seizures and fines by councils,” a Lime spokesperson said. “We recognise that parking is a challenge across the industry largely due to ebike parking not keeping pace with growing demand for rental ebike services.”

Forest echoed that assessment, saying the number of designated parking bays has not kept pace with demand and that it is “working close with boroughs to encourage responsible parking and ensure our service works for everyone.”

A Voi spokesperson said the company’s vehicles should never be parked in ways that block access routes, lift areas, pavements, entrances or emergency routes. “We recognise the particular impact poor parking can have on disabled people, parents with pushchairs and people using mobility aids, and we take reports of obstruction seriously,” the spokesperson said.

The regulatory framework that governs these operators is poised to change. The English devolution bill, passed in April, gives local authorities in England new powers to license rental ebike operators and set requirements around parking, safety and accessibility. In London, those licensing powers go to TfL, which is expected to create a single capital-wide regulatory framework for dockless ebike operators.

The mayor of London’s office said it is working closely with TfL and the Department for Transport on the secondary legislation required to implement “much-needed controls as quickly as possible.” A spokesperson said: “It’s vital that safety improvements sit at the heart of any future regulation to ensure the industry can continue to thrive. The mayor continues to urge all dockless operators to fully engage with London boroughs and TfL to ensure their services work well for all Londoners.”