Islington Council’s open letter to ebike hire operators calls on them to take action on seven key areas.
While we quite agree there’s more to be done to manage them, let’s not forget the massive benefits which these ebikes have delivered. Look at the diversity of people using them, the demographics, the age profiles – each one is one less person using public transport or using a car to get about. There are issues with such rapid growth but we believe that the good far outweighs the bad.
If the operators don’t keep to their side of their agreements with the council, then it’s in the council’s hands to find an operator who does. Could TfL’s fleet of bikes be extended to cover the north of the borough – or is TfL so starved of funds that this is a pipe dream ? Good news in that the council are providing ebike parking bays – 204 since early 2024 – and are consulting to provide more (Hurry ! closes on 19 December.) They should all be geofenced by the operators which will help what’s known as ‘litter’ on our pavements.
Let’s focus on providing more bike hangars at a reasonable price (sadly, Islington remains the most expensive in all London), more bike parking for all bikes at key transport hubs and enforcement of operator service level agreements. Don’t demonise ebikes, or any bikes for that matter; there are only 30% of people with access to a car in Islington and cycling remains a healthy, sustainable and effective way to get around.