Waltham Forest Council has launched a public consultation on dockless e-bikes, potentially ending an eight-year ban in the borough. The new Green council leader, Paul Perkins, announced the move over the weekend, raising the possibility that Lime and Forest bikes could soon operate in Leyton, Walthamstow and other neighbourhoods.
Eight-year ban and past pilot failure
Waltham Forest is one of ten London boroughs that currently prohibit private e-bike companies such as Lime and Forest from operating. The others are Barnet, Bexley, Croydon, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Newham, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets. The ban has been in place since 2017, when a pilot scheme with Irish company Urbo was abandoned after just 10 months due to complaints about bikes littering streets and blocking pavements.
The borough’s Labour council, which controlled Waltham Forest from 2010 until May this year, was cautious about re-introducing e-bikes after that experience. Now the Greens are in charge, and they see clear benefits: e-bikes can reduce car journeys, encourage new cyclists, and ease congestion on public transport.
Consultation details and provider options
The consultation will ask residents for their views on key issues, including where e-bikes should be stationed. Proposals may include designated docking areas to avoid messy piles of discarded cycles on pavements. The council will also decide which providers to welcome, with Lime, Forest and Voi being the main options in other boroughs.
Waltham Forest already has strong cycling infrastructure, having been part of a 2014 ‘mini-Holland’ scheme that brought millions in funding. The borough now boasts 22km of cycle lanes and over 1,000 bike hangars, making it a popular area for cyclists.
Residents invited to have their say
Residents are encouraged to participate in the consultation and share their opinions on the proposals. If approved, e-bikes could be available in the borough as early as next year, allowing locals to enjoy rides along the Walthamstow beer mile with ease.
The consultation marks a significant shift in policy for Waltham Forest, which has resisted e-bikes for nearly a decade. The outcome will determine whether the borough joins the majority of London areas that already embrace dockless e-bikes.
