London Councils has urged e-bike companies to respect the contracts they have agreed with boroughs, as concerns grow over bikes being left strewn across pavements and operators expanding into areas where they have no permission to run services.

The cross-borough body said some companies are operating "with impunity", despite not holding contracts in certain boroughs, and are failing to meet basic standards of fleet management.

London Councils says residents have reported e-bikes blocking footpaths or abandoned in public spaces, creating safety risks for pedestrians and adding to frustration among riders who expect a reliable, well-run service.

Where contracts are in place, operators must ensure their bikes are parked in designated bays, and any abandoned vehicles are collected and returned promptly.

However, London Councils says a number of firms are ignoring these rules by entering boroughs without agreements, and leaving local authorities to deal with the fallout.

The issue comes ahead of the Government's English Devolution Bill, which is expected to introduce a new London-wide licensing system for e-bikes.

This would give Transport for London (TfL) and boroughs the powers they currently lack to regulate the market consistently across the capital.

In the meantime, boroughs are continuing to negotiate agreements that set clear expectations on how services should operate, including where bikes can be parked and how they should be redistributed.

Officials say these contracts not only ensure public spaces are protected, but also help secure affordable travel options for residents.

Mayor Brenda Dacres OBE, London Councils' Executive Member for Transport and Environment, said Londoners "rightly expect e-bikes to be safe, well-managed, and available on fair terms wherever they live".

She added: "These contracts exist to protect residents and public space, while ensuring riders get a reliable, affordable service. We want operators to be partners in building a sustainable, safe network for e-bikes in London."

London Councils says the rapid rise of e-bikes presents a major opportunity to boost healthy, low-carbon travel, but warned that this can only be done sustainably if boroughs, TfL, and operators continue working together to deliver well-managed and equitable schemes.

Lime Bike, which operates in Richmond Borough, said: "Lime has secured more operating licences than any other shared e-bike provider in London, running a service across more than half of its boroughs.

"We've operated here [Richmond Borough] for seven years, and our recent expansion into boroughs like Merton as well as our renewal in Hackney, reflect our commitment to operating responsibly and in partnership with local authorities.

"We'll continue to work with councils to deliver on our London Action Plan by creating more dedicated parking bays, addressing misparked bikes and ensuring we are improving our service for all Londoners."

Lime bike users must submit a photo at the end of their trip to confirm they have parked correctly. The e-bike company uses AI technology to spot poor parking.

Riders that end their journeys in places they are not meant to can be warned and fined, with repeat offenders banned.

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