Ealing Council grants powers to seize e-bikes

Ealing Council has granted senior officers new authority to immediately seize e-bikes that are deemed a danger or a nuisance to pedestrians. The decision, made by councillors during a full council meeting on Tuesday, allows for the delegation of statutory powers, meaning officers can impound offending electric bicycles without requiring a court order. A council report specified that immediate removal is reserved for bikes presenting a clear danger, while other nuisance cases will necessitate a notice and potentially a court order.

This new power means e-bike hire firms will be responsible for reimbursing the council for the recovery expenses of any seized bikes. The impounded vehicles will be stored in a secure council-owned facility located on a housing estate. The move comes as dockless e-bikes have seen a significant increase in use across London, accounting for one in ten daily cycle journeys according to Transport for London estimates. Across the capital, London boroughs have already seized over 3,000 e-bikes this year due to issues with pavement obstruction.

Updated Operator Agreements

In addition to granting new seizure powers, Ealing Council has renegotiated terms with e-bike operators. Under an updated memorandum of understanding, companies are now required to remove reported bikes left in obstructive locations within two hours, a reduction from the previous four-hour timeframe. The 1,800 dockless e-bikes operating in Ealing are covered by this agreement, with companies Forest and Lime currently permitted to supply them. Voi also operates in the borough, despite the council formally requesting its withdrawal.

Residents are encouraged to report obstructive bikes using the Love Clean Streets app, providing the bike's registration number to aid enforcement efforts. The council is also transitioning from virtual parking areas to approximately 300 physically marked bays throughout Ealing to help manage bike parking and prevent street clutter. Geofencing accuracy for ending rides has also been improved to a 10cm precision to ensure riders park within designated areas. Lime and Forest will also fund additional staff to rearrange improperly parked bikes.

This initiative follows a previous enforcement scheme launched in February 2026, which aimed to fine operators for mis-parked bikes. However, that scheme resulted in no Fixed Penalty Notices being issued, primarily due to limited staff capacity and the council's initial focus on collaborative working rather than punitive measures to address the problem of obstructive e-bikes.