Ealing Council Set to Get Tougher with Badly Parked e-Bikes
New powers would enable them to be impounded
300 designated e-bike parking bays are planned across the borough
October 9, 2026
Ealing councillors will next week debate a major shift in how the borough manages dockless e-bikes. A strengthened enforcement policy that would give officers the power to remove and impound bikes causing danger or serious obstruction. The proposals go before Full Council on Tuesday 13 October.
The move follows a sharp rise in complaints about e-bikes left blocking pavements, forcing wheelchair users into the road, obstructing parents with pushchairs and creating hazards on busy streets. Although e-bikes now make up an estimated 25% of all cycling trips in Ealing and remain central to the borough’s sustainable transport plans, councillors say the current system is no longer keeping public spaces safe or accessible.
The new approach would allow the council to use Section 149 of the Highways Act 1980, enabling authorised officers to remove e-bikes left on the highway if they constitute a nuisance or danger. Bikes presenting an immediate risk could be taken away without delay; other cases would require notice to the operator and, if necessary, a court order. Removed bikes would be stored securely, with the council able to recover reasonable costs from operators.
The report makes clear that each bike must be assessed individually and objectively. Being outside a designated bay or operated without a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is not, on its own, grounds for removal — but obstructive or hazardous placement is.
The strengthened enforcement powers sit alongside a wider change in how e-bike parking is managed. Ealing has been expanding its network of marked parking bays, with around 300 locations planned across the borough. These bays are intended to replace most “virtual” in-app parking zones, improving compliance and reducing the number of bikes left on pavements.
The council says the move is designed to support active travel while ensuring bikes are parked responsibly. Better geo-fencing, more on-street rangers and clearer expectations for operators are already being put in place.
The new powers would apply to all operators, whether or not they have an MoU with the council. Voi is operating in Ealing without an agreement, unlike Lime and Forest, which hold MoUs and are subject to fleet caps and designated parking rules.
Under the strengthened policy, any bike — including those from operators without an MoU — could be removed if it is found to be a nuisance or danger. The report notes that the existing enforcement policy already covers both permitted and unpermitted operators, but the new powers would give officers a more direct and effective tool to deal with obstructive bikes from any company.
In practice, this means that bikes from operators outside the council’s agreements would no longer rely solely on voluntary compliance or informal discussions. If they block pavements or create hazards, they could be impounded and the operator charged for removal.
Council leader Peter Mason said the aim is to ensure e-bikes work for everyone. In his weekly notes, he wrote: “The challenge is not e-bikes themselves. The challenge is making sure they are used responsibly and managed properly. We are putting in place arrangements that will enable the council to remove bikes that present a danger or obstruction and recover costs from operators. This is about getting the balance right.”
Residents are encouraged to report obstructive bikes through Love Clean Streets, including the location, time and bike identification number, to help officers respond more effectively.
If approved, the new enforcement policy will go to the General Purposes Committee for final sign-off, with cost-recovery charges set following a pilot period.
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