The previous Labour administration did not allow Lime, Forest and other bike-rental companies to operate in the borough, but now residents are being given a say on the issue, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter & Marco Marcelline
Waltham Forest Council is looking to allow dockless e-bikes in Waltham Forest.
Councillor Paul Perkins, the new Green leader of the council, announced a new public consultation on the issue in a video posted to Instagram and Facebook prior to the weekend.
He said: “This is already the best borough to cycle in, but we want to give you even more green and easy options.”
Dockless e-bikes – electric bikes that can be hired through an app – are a popular way for Londoners to get around, with around 150,000 trips made across the capital every day.
Dockless cycles do not need to be returned to a dedicated station, but riders are often required to leave them in marked bays.
The previous Labour administration prevented Lime, Forest and other bike-rental companies from operating in the borough, before back-pedalling on the issue in its local election manifesto earlier this year.
There are almost 60 kilometres of cycle lanes in Waltham Forest and more than 1,000 bike hangars, according to council figures.
The town hall is currently considering a scheme with designated parking bays on the road and limits on the number of dockless e-bikes, which would be rolled out in phases.
“Clear rules” would also be in place for operators and walking routes would be “strongly protected”.
“How we introduce the scheme is up to you,” Cllr Perkins said.
“Whether you like e-bikes, regular cycles, or you don’t cycle at all, we want you to help us introduce e-bikes safely and responsibly.”
The borough-wide survey focuses on where residents would like to see dockless e-bike parking bays, places they would like to travel using them, and locations that need “careful consideration” or where people would not like to see parking bays.
Dockless e-bikes have proven fairly divisive in the borough, though support is particularly strong among young people and active commuters.
Last year, Leytonstone resident Carmen Christensen was moved to create a petition calling on the council to back dockless hire bikes after constantly hearing from her friends about how “frustrating” it was that there were no Limes in the area.
The petition ended up getting the support of over 1,400 residents, a result which Carmen says shows how popular the bikes are.
She previously told the Echo: “The south of Leytonstone is a bit of a public transport blackspot – it’s quite a long walk to Maryland and Leytonstone High Road Overground, so I rely on Lime bikes to get around, especially if I’m coming back from a friend’s place at night.”
Carmen said she finds Limes to be safer than night buses or even Ubers, but for the most part, she values the “freedom” and “accessibility” of the e-bikes.
However, other residents have expressed concern about dockless e-bikes blocking pavements, crowding areas, poor parking, and “slow action” from operators when problems are reported.
Walthamstow resident Keith Foster said dockless e-bikes were already blocking pavements and creating street clutter despite currently not being allowed to operate in the borough.
Sharing photos of Lime bikes dumped next to the Forest Road entrance to the Walthamstow Wetlands, he told the Echo: “[Clutter] is clearly happening despite the system not even having started and Lime are not doing anything about it now.
“They have a collect and repair facility in nearby Tottenham Hale and they don’t bother with clutter right outside the tube station.”
Lime says riders that don’t park according to rules receive a warning, with repeat offenders facing fines of up to £20 and a potential ban.
Some boroughs, such as Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Camden, City of London and Hackney, enforce mandatory bay parking, meaning riders cannot simply dump their bikes on a pavement without facing a warning or penalty.
Waltham Forest has said its preferred approach is to have mandatory parking bays similar to the above boroughs.
Emma Best, the leader of the Waltham Forest Conservatives, told the Echo that her party had “concerns over enforcement and management of dumped bikes, especially in less densely populated areas of Chingford”.
Urging the Greens to manage the scheme in a “positive way” for residents, she warned: “The reality of many of these schemes across London is that, while well-intentioned, they have made pavements inaccessible, especially for those with disabilities.
“Furthermore, they have caused anti-social behaviour with bikes being ridden without payment, stolen or dumped in rivers, roads and parks.
“There are big questions around how it can be managed in a way that is positive for residents. We remain ready to challenge [the council] to make sure we get the best outcome for our community.”
Alice Pleasant, Lime UK and Ireland’s senior public affairs manager, told the Echo that the company was “excited” to hear Waltham Forest was running a consultation, and pointed to Carmen’s petition that attracted over 1,400 signatures.
She said: “We often hear from locals about how much they would benefit from having Lime bikes in the borough. Waltham Forest is known for its cycling infrastructure, and we’d love to help even more people get around the borough on two wheels.
“With Lime already available in the neighbouring boroughs of Hackney and Haringey, bringing them to Waltham Forest would improve connectivity and make everyday journeys like commutes easier and more sustainable across borough boundaries. This should be a key consideration when building and launching a service.”
The Echo understands that Lime has been having ongoing conversations with the town hall about operating in Waltham Forest for several months, with the company having held a demonstration earlier this year showcasing how Lime would work in the borough.
No decisions have yet been made on operators, the number of e-bikes, or when the scheme would begin, the council says.
Take part in the consultation survey here
You can also attend feedback sessions taking place at local events and venues in the coming weeks. Find out where they are here
Read more: Letter: ‘We need Lime bikes in Waltham Forest’
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