Wandsworth Council Set to Prohibit Parking of E-bikes on crowded Walkways

Wandsworth Council is cracking down on e-bike parking on crowded town centre pavements to promote responsible active travel.

The ban on haphazard e-bike parking will take effect in about a month, once 111 parking bays are completed, as announced by the council on June 20.

These parking zones are being installed in various locations across southwest London, including Clapham Junction, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Bec, Wandsworth Town, Balham, and Putney.

The newly painted parking zones in busy areas aim to encourage riders to utilize the designated parking bays. However, the council will still allow responsible “free-floating” parking in quieter parts of the borough and away from congested spots.

David Tidley, head of transport strategy at Wandsworth Council, explained that the goal is to introduce mandatory parking bays in bustling areas to prevent e-bikes from obstructing pedestrian pathways.

“We encourage the use of e-bikes as they provide a convenient travel option for locals and visitors,” Mr. Tidley stated.

Mr. Tidley expressed satisfaction with over a million e-bike journeys taken in Wandsworth and acknowledged challenges faced with e-bike integration in the district, particularly with inconsiderate parking.

The implementation of new bays aims to help riders park in designated areas and promote courteous parking behavior.

Enforcement details of the upcoming ban were not provided by Wandsworth Council.

This initiative follows a public consultation that gathered feedback from groups affected by the issue, such as parents with strollers, wheelchair users, and individuals with visual impairments.

Vulnerable People

Sarah Gayton, the street access campaign coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, criticized Wandsworth Council for not adequately addressing the concerns of vulnerable individuals regarding e-bike parking.

Ms. Gayton emphasized the importance of securely docked e-bikes to prevent hazards for the disabled and visually impaired community.

A report by Steer highlighted challenges in solving e-bike parking issues in London, urging clearer communication and consistent parking rules.

Lime’s policy director, Hal Stevenson, commended the collaboration with Wandsworth Council to enhance the parking system for shared e-bikes.

Wandsworth Council plans to introduce more e-bike parking bays later this year and encourages the public to report poorly parked or abandoned e-bikes to operators.