Waltham Forest's new Green council leadership has launched a public consultation on bringing dockless e-bikes to the borough — and the message to residents is that the details are still up for grabs.
Council leader Councillor Paul Perkins said: "This is already the best borough to cycle in, but we want to give you even more green and easy options."
It is a notable shift. The previous Labour administration kept Lime, Forest and other bike-rental firms out of Waltham Forest altogether, before reversing that position in its local election manifesto earlier this year. The borough already has around 60 kilometres of cycle lanes and more than 1,000 bike hangars.
What is actually being proposed
Nothing is fixed yet. The council is looking at designated parking bays, with limits on how many bikes can be dropped in them, rolled out in phases rather than all at once. Operators would face what the council calls "clear rules", and walking routes would be "strongly protected".
That last point matters, because the most common worry about dockless hire bikes anywhere in London is what happens when they are left behind.
How to take part
There are two ways in, and neither requires any prior knowledge of transport policy.
The first is an online survey at talk.walthamforest.gov.uk/dockless-e-bikes-engagement. It asks where you would want parking bays, where you travel to, and which areas you think need careful handling. If you have ever stepped around a bike dumped across a pavement, that last question is yours to answer.
The second is in person: the council is running feedback sessions at local events and venues over the coming weeks, with details posted on the same website.
Councillor Perkins said: "How we introduce the scheme is up to you. Whether you like e-bikes, regular cycles, or you don't cycle at all, we want you to help us introduce e-bikes safely and responsibly."
The case for
Support is strongest among younger residents and people who commute actively. Leytonstone resident Carmen Christensen ran a petition that gathered more than 1,400 signatures.
"The south of Leytonstone is a bit of a public transport blackspot – it's quite a long walk to Maryland and Leytonstone High Road Overground, so I rely on Lime bikes to get around, especially if I'm coming back from a friend's place at night," she said, describing the "freedom" and "accessibility" the bikes offer.
Alice Pleasant, senior public affairs manager for Lime UK and Ireland, said: "We often hear from locals about how much they would benefit from having Lime bikes in the borough."
The case for caution
Walthamstow resident Keith Foster is unconvinced that operators will keep on top of the clutter.
"[Clutter] is clearly happening despite the system not even having started and Lime are not doing anything about it now," he said. "They have a collect and repair facility in nearby Tottenham Hale and they don't bother with clutter right outside the tube station."
Emma Best, leader of Waltham Forest Conservatives, warned the scheme could leave pavements "inaccessible, especially for those with disabilities", adding: "We remain ready to challenge [the council] to make sure we get the best outcome for our community."
Which is rather the point of a consultation. Both of those views, and yours, can go in the same survey box.
