Residents in Tower Hamlets, East London, are increasingly frustrated by dockless e-bikes left scattered across pavements, particularly around Island Gardens near the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. The issue has become a daily nuisance, with bikes from operators Lime, Forest, and Voi frequently left blocking pedestrian paths.
Residents report daily e-bike clutter
In Island Gardens, on one side of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, residents regularly wake up to e-bikes piled on pavements. In recent months, the tunnel's interior has been described online as a 'bike graveyard' due to the high number of bikes left there. The problem now extends outside, with bikes strewn across roads and walkways.
A resident named Susan posted a photo on an Isle of Dogs Facebook group on Monday, October 5, at 7am, showing rental bikes gathered on the pavement. One resident commented: "I sometimes wonder about the overall impact of these bike-share schemes, as it often feels like they bring more inconvenience than benefits. They are frequently left scattered across sidewalks, blocking the path for pedestrians."
Another resident added: "On the roads, they add to the traffic congestion, and narrowing the lanes to accommodate them seems to have made driving even more stressful for everyone." A wheelchair user expressed frustration: "I am a wheelchair user, and it's so frustrating when they leave them like this, as I have to find another way to go around them. I think they should be taken off for people to use them, or be put in a place where they can get left properly."
Cause and operator response
The problem appears to stem from a broken lift in the foot tunnel, leading bike users to abandon bikes inside or outside to avoid carrying them up stairs. The tunnel has been a no-ride and no-parking zone since May 2024, but this has not deterred users from leaving bikes on nearby pavements.
Rental bike rules require users to park in designated bays and send proof of parking location. Companies have stated that anyone abandoning a bike in the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, a 'no parking zone', will be fined. Forest did not provide a comment but mentioned its 'Forest Guardians' patrol 24/7 and respond quickly to parking issues.
A Lime spokesperson said: "The Greenwich foot tunnel is a no-ride and no-parking zone in our app, and we've worked to prevent riders from riding through it. As a result, riders are ending their trips at either entrance, doing the right thing by walking through, and picking up a bike at the other end." Lime added that more dedicated parking bays at both ends of the tunnel would help improve parking. Forest also believes the lack of dedicated parking infrastructure and varying borough rules are the biggest challenges.
Council enforcement and new regulations
Tower Hamlets Council has taken action, issuing 996 Fixed Penalty Notices to dockless bike operators over the past six months. A council spokesperson said: "We are also exploring extending geofencing restrictions with operators to help prevent bikes from being left in unsuitable locations, including around Island Gardens."
The council is awaiting new regulatory powers through the English Devolution Bill, expected to enable a compulsory licensing system for operators, with licences issued by Transport for London. This aims to provide a stronger framework for regulating the sector.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced new rules to address the 'wild west' of dockless e-bikes. He stated: "The 'Wild West' approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue. While these services are helping thousands more Londoners to cycle, their rapid growth has also brought challenges around safety, inconsiderate parking, and the lack of data needed to properly manage them."
Khan added: "I've been calling for powers to better manage dockless e-bike schemes since 2017, when the first schemes arrived in London, so I welcome the Government's plans to give cities the powers they need to do this. It's now vital that the Department for Transport moves quickly to bring forward the secondary legislation needed to make these powers a reality."
Transport for London estimates that over one in 10 cycle journey stages in 2024 were made by a dockless bike. Voi was contacted for comment but did not respond.
