At the Norwood Forum AGM last year and since, we have received a great deal of feedback on the issues caused by poorly parked dockless hire bikes and also the enthusiasm for their use, particularly amongst younger members of our community. Over the course of the year, the Forum has had a series of engagements with Lambeth Council about active travel and local transport provision and specifically about dockless bikes.
We are therefore very pleased to see that dockless bike operators, Lime, Voi and Forest, have signed new agreements with Lambeth Council, setting out how they will work collaboratively with the authority to manage their fleets of dockless bikes. Voi will operate in Lambeth for the first time, widening choice and competition for riders.
Lambeth says, following resident frustration about bikes blocking pavements, operators have agreed to implement a ‘bay parking only’ policy– meaning all riders must end their rides in designated dockless parking bays. The council – in collaboration with e-bike operators – – will use real-time data to monitor bike parking to ensure operators swiftly remove bikes that block pavements and roads. They face fines and even bike seizures if they fail to comply.
There were millions of dockless bike trips in Lambeth last year, and the council is keen to support further responsible uptake. The council has also committed to a further 136 bays dockless bike bays, taking the total over 500, with the aim of ensuring everyone is within 400m of a bay. These will be funded by operators and TFL.
The council has also negotiated cheaper fares for residents, with every operator agreeing to provide at least one fare that is comparable to a bus ticket. Discounts of up to 50% will be offered to key workers and people on low incomes.
You can read more on the Love Lambeth website.
The Forum continues to welcome feedback from local residents as these new rules are put in place, to help ensure they are properly enforced and the use of e-bikes are good for us all, not a blight on our streets.
Contact us here: info@norwoodforum.org
