Frustrated residents in a South West London neighbourhood are demanding the immediate relocation of a dockless e-bike bay, which they say causes daily chaos by blocking a one-way street, private driveways, and even the exit of a Metropolitan Police station car park.
A Street in Gridlock
At the heart of the issue is the bay's placement on South Park Road in Wimbledon, near its junction with Queens Road. The street operates as a one-way system for cars, but permits bicycles and emergency vehicles. Locals argue that Merton Council's decision to install the bay directly next to the police station entrance was a catastrophic error in planning.
Colin Bailey, a resident living opposite the bay, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), "It is just bad planning, plain and simple. My argument is all about location, location, location. Clearly no-one at the council has thought this through."
Residents report that the bay, designated for Lime and Forest e-bikes, overflows on an almost daily basis. This forces users to leave the cycles outside the marked area, spilling onto the road and across the entrance to nearby driveways.
Emergency Services and Residents Impacted
The consequences extend beyond mere inconvenience. Colin described a serious incident where emergency response vehicles were unable to leave the police compound because e-bikes had been abandoned in their path. "The whole affair took about five minutes, and seconds count for police," he stated. This led to the Met Police itself lodging complaints with the council.
For residents, the problems are constant. The narrow, one-way street requires cars to perform three-point turns frequently, a manoeuvre made hazardous by the obstructing bikes. Colin claims his car was scraped on one occasion when a vehicle was forced to mount his driveway to navigate the clogged road. Furthermore, residents allege that the e-bike company vans themselves block driveways while collecting or charging the bicycles.
Council Defends Scheme Amidst Growing Criticism
Despite the local outcry, Merton Council points to its own data to defend the scheme. The council highlights a 97 per cent compliance rate with the new parking rules introduced in June and notes that the bay was installed following a public consultation. They credit the dedicated bays with a significant increase in e-bike usage and a decrease in bikes being abandoned on pavements.
However, local politicians argue the council is not listening. Councillor Anthony Fairclough revealed that the council has no formal process to report or review problematic e-bike bays. "They simply refuse to consider moving a bay, no matter how miserable it makes the people who live by it, or what other problems are caused," he said, adding he has been discussing the South Park Road bay for at least four months.
Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler has also weighed in, criticising the council for "dragging their feet" and installing bays in "odd places that haven't worked."
In response, Councillor Stuart Neaverson, Merton's Cabinet Member for Transport, said the council is "constantly reviewing e-bike parking bays" and is in close contact with operators to manage the situation. He championed the scheme's success, citing over 200,000 rides in July alone as "fantastic news for anyone who supports cleaner, greener, more convenient travel."
