More than 2,500 abandoned and obstructive rental e-bikes have been removed from the streets of Kensington and Chelsea over the past 17 months, as part of a major crackdown on improperly parked vehicles.
In 2026 alone, council officers have seized over 1,200 e-bikes that were causing immediate danger or significant obstruction. This adds to the 1,315 bikes removed during 2025, bringing the total to more than 2,500.
The total fees charged to rental firms have exceeded £210,000, with the council successfully receiving over £179,000 in payments from operators including Lime, Human Forest, Bolt, and Voi. All income generated from fines is reinvested into enforcement activities.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for resident services, planning and enforcement, said: “Rental e-bikes have an important role to play in helping Londoners get around, but that cannot come at the expense of safe, accessible streets. Our officers have done a fantastic job in removing 2,500 e-bikes, and it sends a very clear message – park in a bay, or we’ll take it away.”
He added: “If bikes are dumped across pavements, blocking crossings or creating a danger for residents and road users, we will take action. We also need operators to do their bit by clearing obstructions quickly, covering the cost when we have to intervene, and doing more to encourage considerate rider behaviour.”
Rental e-bikes are removed when they are lying across the highway, obstructing safe passage, or positioned on the pavement in a way that forces pedestrians to step into the road. Others are removed if they appear likely to fall over, posing a risk of injury, or are situated in the road in a manner that endangers drivers or pedestrians.
