Over 1,000 hire bikes removed by Kensington and Chelsea council

"Kensington and Chelsea council says it has seized 1,000 badly parked rental e-bikes so far this year. The action comes in response to complaints from residents who report the bikes as trip hazards and highway obstructions. Once reported, council staff remove the bikes from the streets and place them in storage. To have the bikes released, the providers are paying a one-off seizure fee, plus a daily storage fee if the bikes are not collected within 14 days."

"So far, the Council has collected more than £81,000 in charges from the providers. It says that the income is being used to increase parking enforcement. The enforcement team is made up of Council street enforcement officers and was increased in July. Officers are notified via reports from residents, or by patrols in the streets of the borough, particularly in hotspot areas."

"Bikes are removed in accordance with the Highways Act. There are 246 rental e-bike parking bays in Kensington and Chelsea, with an estimated 3,000 bays across London. Where bikes are outside a bay, but not causing an obstruction, enforcement officers report the bikes to the operators, who have to move them within two to six hours or face more bikes being seized."

Kensington and Chelsea council has seized 1,000 badly parked rental e-bikes this year following resident complaints that the bikes are trip hazards and highway obstructions. Council staff remove reported bikes from streets and place them in storage. Providers must pay a one-off seizure fee and a daily storage fee if bikes are not collected within 14 days. The Council has collected more than £81,000 from providers and is using the income to increase parking enforcement. The enforcement team of council street officers was increased in July and acts on reports and patrols. There are 246 rental e-bike bays in the borough and operators must move non-obstructing bikes within two to six hours when notified.

Read at ianVisits