Westminster seizes over 1,000 dockless bikes in parking crackdown

Westminster City Council has removed more than 1,000 dockless hire bikes from its streets since May as part of a campaign against obstructive parking. The authority has also issued over 5,300 fixed penalty notices to operators, amounting to more than £53,000. The council stated that the bikes would continue to be removed if they caused an obstruction, with operators charged for their return.

Caroline Sargent, Westminster Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for enforcement, said that the council had promised to take action against badly parked dockless bikes. She added that each seizure represented a resident inconvenienced by a bike left in an inappropriate place, such as a parent with a pushchair or a wheelchair user being blocked. Ms Sargent emphasised that bike companies must take responsibility for their property.

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Increased Enforcement and Collision Statistics

The council recently doubled the number of its enforcement patrols. In one week, teams seized a record 217 bikes. These actions are occurring amidst a wider discussion about the management of dockless bikes across London. London Assembly statistics indicate that in 2025, 18% of all cycle collisions involved a hired cycle, an increase from 2% in 2017. Since 2017, six deaths have been recorded, with riders accounting for approximately 80% of those injured in 2025.

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Currently, individual London boroughs manage their own arrangements with dockless bike operators, leading to varying rules across the capital. Representatives from dockless bike companies, speaking at a London Assembly Transport Committee meeting, described this situation as creating problems for both operators and users. Alice Pleasant, Lime's deputy regional head of government relations, referred to a "patchwork" of regulations. Harry Foskin of Voi noted that gaps in borough agreements caused difficulties, while Georgia Heathman from Bolt stated that the fragmented approach was not beneficial for the city, customers, or investors. Ms Heathman also highlighted that parking infrastructure had not kept pace with demand and that companies were working with boroughs to secure more spaces.

Dr Will Norman, London's walking and cycling commissioner, acknowledged the popularity of dockless bikes, describing them as a key part of London's sustainable transport network, used for one in ten bike journeys. He indicated potential for significant future growth. However, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 provided the transport secretary with the ability to grant Transport for London (TfL) statutory powers to establish a framework for dockless micro-mobility schemes. These powers are not anticipated to be in place until at least 2028. Dr Norman has written to the government requesting an acceleration of this process, but stated that further legislation is required before the new powers can be introduced.