Fancy grabbing an e-bike for the school run, the shops or a spin round the park? Waltham Forest Council is proposing to bring dockless e-bike hire to the borough, and before anything happens it wants to hear what residents think.
The council points out that the borough already has almost 60 kilometres of cycle lanes and more than 1,000 bike hangars for residents, which it says makes Waltham Forest the best borough in London to cycle in. A hire scheme would add another option for getting from A to B.
E-bikes have become a popular way to travel around the capital, with roughly 150,000 e-bike trips made in London every day. The council says any scheme introduced here would be done in a safe and responsible way, with residents involved at every step.
That is where the survey comes in. A borough-wide questionnaire is now open to everyone, whether you cycle every day or have not been on a bike in years. The council says the responses will shape how an e-bike hire scheme serves communities across the borough.
Cllr Paul Perkins, Leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: "Greener and more convenient travel for our residents is at the heart of what we want to deliver for our borough. That's why I'm delighted to announce our intention to introduce an e-bike hire to Waltham Forest."
He added that the council is committed to a "safe and convenient scheme that works for everyone, whether you're a cyclist or not", and encouraged residents to say what would encourage them to use an e-bike and what matters most to them.
How to have your say
The survey is short and can be filled in online at talk.walthamforest.gov.uk/dockless-e-bikes-engagement, where the council has also published a set of frequently asked questions.
If you would rather talk to someone in person, feedback sessions are being held at local events and venues around the borough. Details of when and where are listed on the Let's Talk page alongside the survey.
