London boroughs have seized 3,393 hazardously parked or abandoned ebikes this year, according to a Guardian investigation. This figure represents a 23% increase compared to the total number of seizures in 2025.
Lime, a California-based rental company, was responsible for over 2,000 of these seizures, based on figures from 19 reporting authorities. Forest ranked second with 978 seizures, followed by Voi with 103.
Campaign groups, including Living Streets and the Royal National Institute of Blind People, have raised concerns about ebikes blocking pavements and causing problems for pedestrians, particularly blind and partially sighted individuals, elderly people, and wheelchair users.
Bike operators, including Lime and Forest, argue that the number of designated parking bays has not kept pace with the growing demand for rental ebike services. Councils, meanwhile, have expressed concerns about a lack of centralised regulation across London.
The English devolution bill, passed in April, grants local authorities new powers to license rental ebike operators. In London, these powers will go to Transport for London (TfL), which is expected to create a single regulatory framework for dockless ebike operators across the capital.