Agenda item

To consider any petitions for which notice has been received in accordance with Standing Order 66.

Members are asked to note that the following petition is due to be presented at the meeting:

Keep Pavements free of clutter- including dockless bikes

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Mr Rehan Khan (as lead petitioner) in support of a petition containing 174 signatures requesting that the Council take action to ensure its pavements were kept free of clutter, including dockless bikes in order to ensure pedestrian safety.  In introducing the petition, Mr Khan highlighted the major concern for residents in relation to the management of dockless e-bikes, specifically those operated by Lime, which he pointed out were cluttering pavements and creating obstructions, particularly for wheelchair users, children in pushchairs, the blind or partially blind residents.  In terms of actions to address these concerns the petitioners felt that limiting the number of dockless e-bikes in the borough would not solve the issue and that there was a need for better management and control in relation to their operation and authorised use.  Referring to research on bike use in other European countries, Mr Khan highlighted that over 60% of residents in Copenhagen, Denmark used bikes as a mode of transportation with very low reports of them causing a nuisance or danger to pedestrians through cluttering the pavements.  In referring to a petition he had submitted a number of years previously, Mr Khan highlighted the positive measures introduced as a result to improve pavements along Salmon Street but with the progress made now being impacted by the nuisance of dockless e-bikes being abandoned or improperly parked in the area with concern also expressed at any potential costs associated with personal injury or insurance claims relating to any hazards created as a result.  In summing up, Mr Khan hoped the Council would be able to use its influence to ensure enhanced measures were introduced to control and manage dockless e-bikes given the concerns highlighted in an aim to ensure that pavements were free of clutter across the borough.

As a supporter of the petition, Councillor Long was also invited to address Cabinet who felt it important to note that in addition to dockless bikes the petition was also focussed around the need to keep pavements free from all clutter.  Whilst recognising the work undertaken with Lime as the dockless e-bike operator in Brent, she highlighted the issue also being created by other providers operating in the borough, such as Human Forest, which involved similar issues being experienced and was keen to ensure these concerns were also addressed as part of the Council’s wider response. Highlighting further concerns with regard to the technology supporting the operation of dockless e-bike schemes Councillor Long felt that the issues identified could not be resolved until this was also addressed preventing bikes from being hacked.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment and Enforcement) thanked Mr Khan and Councillor Long for attending Cabinet in order to ensure the views of those supporting the petition were presented. She highlighted that the Council shared the petitioners’ commitment to keeping pavements safe, uncluttered and accessible for everyone, especially pedestrians with the Council seeking to actively hold Lime to rigorous account through a comprehensive plan designed to prevent pavement obstructions. In responding to the points raised within the petition, Councillor Krupa Sheth shared the frustrations regarding the hacking of dockless e-bikes and confirmed the Council had now also held an initial meeting with Human Forest on the issue.

In detailing the agreement reached with Lime, Councillor Krupa Sheth highlighted that stricter parking requirements and designated bays would be introduced, with a funding commitment from both Lime and TfL to provide an additional 200 parking bays in the borough to significantly reduce the likelihood of the bikes obstructing pavements. There would also be a reduction in Lime’s fleet in Brent by 30% and an increase in the local staffing team in Brent by 75% to ensure quicker response times for reported issues, with a commitment to removing reported bikes within two hours and the revised operational arrangements subject to regular monitoring and ongoing performance review through newly established Key Performance Indicators. Provisions for safety and local investment were also being introduced, which included speed restrictions and restricted access in designated high-traffic areas. It was confirmed that any fines from abandoned or improperly parked bikes would be reinvested into Brent’s community through the Brent Together for Net Zero grant scheme also adding social value to enforcement efforts.  Councillor Krupa Sheth ended her response by stating that she believed this negotiated approach served the community best, as she felt an outright ban would not guarantee compliance and could lead to dockless e-bikes still being used on Brent streets without the same level of control.  In terms of national regulation, she confirmed the Council’s active support of campaigns seeking stronger regulation around e-bike management but until this was in place the Council remained confident that that the current agreement with Lime would provide the best balance in terms of accessibility, safety and control.  Residents were also encouraged to continue sharing their experiences and reporting instances of inappropriately parked Lime bikes and to participate in the upcoming quarterly forums for residents where Lime representatives would be present in order to help shape the Council’s ongoing approach as well as ensuring the necessary level of compliance and accountability.

In thanking Councillor Krupa Sheth for her response, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader) also took the opportunity to assure the petitioners that the concerns raised in relation to technology and the hacking of e-bikes had been raised with Lime with conversations involving other dockless e-bike operators in the borough also continuing to ensure the effective management of their bikes across the borough.  In thanking Mr Khan and Councillor Long for presenting the petition he ended by confirming the Council would continue to hold Lime and any other companies to account to ensure they continued to work with the Council and residents in a manner that kept people safe with a strict enforcement approach applied where this was not felt to be the case.