Benjamin Murphy

I’ve met a number of Bishopsgate businesses recently who have raised concerns at the volume of e-bikes and e-scooters being left scattered across the pavement, blocking pedestrian walkways and creating trip hazards.

This relatively new method of transport is an important part of the City of London’s transport strategy. Having easily accessible environmentally friendly means of getting around the City and freeing up space around Liverpool Street Station – the UK’s busiest transport hub – is critical.

However, I was shown the issues businesses around Bishopsgate Plaza and Wormwood Street are having and it is not acceptable. Therefore, I have taken a number of actions this week:

• I discussed the matter with the City Corporation’s Chairman of Planning and Transportation, who shares concerns across the Square Mile. He explained that he is working across all London Council’s with TfL to try and create an arrangement which would allow local authorities to enforce safe operating procedures, or fine operators for non-compliance. He is also looking at improving the number of locations across the City for bikes and scooters to be managed from. However, currently, local authorities have no enforcement powers over e-bike and e-scooter operators and are working with government to request legislative changes.
• I met with MPs at the House of Commons to promote the idea of parliamentary legislation to allow the City Corporation to take enforcement action where necessary to manage its streets and walkways safely. I was told there is national pressure for this legislation and government ministers and considering how best this can be achieved with such a busy legislative programme already laid out in the King’s Speech.

• I spent some time with Lime e-Bike operatives on site at Bishopsgate Plaza to understand how the technology is working against some sites. They explained that the company sets a limit of bikes per area. Using GPS tracking devices on each bike, they can see where there may be shortages and deliver more bikes, or an over-population and collect bikes. I was informed that Bishopsgate Plaza frequently exceeds 200 bikes, which means that collections take place throughout the day. I also saw that this means that van drivers are blocking the entrance to local hospitality venues where people need access, particularly access to hotels with heavy suitcases.

• With this information, City of London Corporation officers met with Lime and Forest e-bike operators and expressed concerns. They have agreed to move a significant proportion of the bikes to other sites, including Devonshire Square, with comms sent to regular uses to inform them of this change. Geofencing has also been established to prevent parking outside important accessibility routes.

My thanks to everyone who has cooperated and supported this local improvement in Bishopsgate and, as you will see from the photograph below, it is now considerably clearer and more accessible, but we will have to keep an eye on things in the weeks ahead no doubt.