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Cabinet NOTED the comments made by
Mr Rehan Khan (as lead petitioner) in support of a petition
containing 174 signatures requesting that the Council take action
to ensure its pavements were kept free of clutter, including
dockless bikes in order to ensure pedestrian safety.  In introducing the petition, Mr Khan
highlighted the major concern for
residents in relation to the management of dockless e-bikes,
specifically those operated by Lime, which he pointed out were
cluttering pavements and creating obstructions, particularly for
wheelchair users, children in pushchairs, the blind or partially
blind residents.  In terms of actions to
address these concerns the petitioners felt that limiting the
number of dockless e-bikes in the borough would not solve the issue
and that there was a need for better management and control in
relation to their operation and authorised use.  Referring to research on bike use in other
European countries, Mr Khan highlighted that over 60% of residents
in Copenhagen, Denmark used bikes as a mode of transportation with
very low reports of them causing a nuisance or danger to
pedestrians through cluttering the pavements.  In referring to a petition he had submitted
a number of years previously, Mr Khan
highlighted the positive measures introduced as a result to improve
pavements along Salmon Street but with the progress made now being
impacted by the nuisance of dockless e-bikes being abandoned or
improperly parked in the area with concern also expressed at any
potential costs associated with personal injury or insurance claims
relating to any hazards created as a result.  In summing up, Mr Khan hoped the Council would be
able to use its influence to ensure enhanced measures were
introduced to control and manage dockless e-bikes given the
concerns highlighted in an aim to ensure that pavements were free
of clutter across the borough.
 
As a supporter
of the petition, Councillor Long was also invited to address
Cabinet who felt it important to note that in addition to dockless
bikes the petition was also focussed around the need to keep
pavements free from all clutter.  Whilst
recognising the work undertaken with Lime as the dockless e-bike
operator in Brent, she highlighted the issue also being created by
other providers operating in the borough, such as Human Forest,
which involved similar issues being experienced and was keen to
ensure these concerns were also addressed as part of the
Council’s wider response. Highlighting further concerns
with regard to the technology supporting
the operation of dockless e-bike schemes Councillor Long felt that
the issues identified could not be resolved until this was also
addressed preventing bikes from being hacked.
 
In response,
Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment and
Enforcement) thanked Mr Khan and Councillor Long for attending
Cabinet in order to ensure the views of
those supporting the petition were presented. She highlighted that
the Council shared the petitioners’ commitment to keeping
pavements safe, uncluttered and
accessible for everyone, especially pedestrians with the Council
seeking to actively hold Lime to rigorous account through a
comprehensive plan designed to prevent pavement obstructions. In
responding to the points raised within the petition, Councillor
Krupa Sheth shared the frustrations regarding the hacking of
dockless e-bikes and confirmed the Council had now also held an
initial meeting with Human Forest on the issue.
 
In detailing the
agreement reached with Lime, Councillor Krupa Sheth highlighted
that stricter parking requirements and designated bays would be
introduced, with a funding commitment from both Lime and TfL to
provide an additional 200 parking bays in the borough to
significantly reduce the likelihood of the bikes obstructing
pavements. There would also be a reduction in Lime’s fleet in
Brent by 30% and an increase in the local staffing team in Brent by
75% to ensure quicker response times for reported issues, with a
commitment to removing reported bikes within two hours and the
revised operational arrangements subject to regular monitoring and
ongoing performance review through newly established Key
Performance Indicators. Provisions for safety and local investment
were also being introduced, which included speed restrictions and
restricted access in designated high-traffic areas. It was
confirmed that any fines from abandoned or improperly parked bikes
would be reinvested into Brent’s community through the Brent
Together for Net Zero grant scheme also adding social value to
enforcement efforts.  Councillor Krupa
Sheth ended her response by stating that she believed this
negotiated approach served the community best, as she felt an
outright ban would not guarantee compliance and could lead to
dockless e-bikes still being used on Brent streets without the same
level of control.  In terms of national
regulation, she confirmed the Council’s active support of
campaigns seeking stronger regulation around e-bike management but
until this was in place the Council remained confident that that
the current agreement with Lime would provide the best balance in
terms of accessibility, safety and
control.  Residents were also encouraged
to continue sharing their experiences and reporting instances of
inappropriately parked Lime bikes and to participate in the
upcoming quarterly forums for residents where Lime representatives
would be present in order to help shape
the Council’s ongoing approach as well as ensuring the
necessary level of compliance and accountability.
 
In thanking
Councillor Krupa Sheth for her response, Councillor Muhammed Butt
(as Leader) also took the opportunity to assure the petitioners
that the concerns
raised in relation to technology and the hacking of e-bikes had
been raised with Lime with conversations involving other dockless
e-bike operators in the borough also continuing to ensure the
effective management of their bikes across the borough.  In thanking Mr Khan and Councillor Long for
presenting the petition he ended by confirming the Council would
continue to hold Lime and any other companies to account to ensure
they continued to work with the Council and residents in a manner
that kept people safe with a strict enforcement approach applied
where this was not felt to be the case.