Wandsworth Council has introduced tougher rules for hire e-bikes and e-scooters, aiming to keep pavements, roads and public spaces safer and more accessible. The council announced its new Fair Use Charter on 14 October 2026, following concerns from residents about badly parked vehicles and dangerous riding on pavements.

The measures are intended to make operators more accountable as the use of hire bikes continues to grow across the south-west London borough.

What the new Fair Use Charter means

Under the charter, hire e-bike and e-scooter companies are expected to remove dangerous or obstructive vehicles within two hours of a report. Operators must also make restrictions clearer in their apps, including no-parking, no-go and go-slow zones, and take steps to prevent riders leaving vehicles in prohibited areas.

The council says operators should move bikes promptly when they create clutter in busy locations. A new operational team is patrolling known hotspots, monitoring compliance and removing badly parked bikes where necessary.

Why pavement access is a concern

Hire e-bikes can provide a flexible alternative to car journeys, but poorly parked vehicles can create barriers for people using wheelchairs, parents with pushchairs and residents with reduced mobility. Bikes left across narrow pavements can also obstruct pedestrians and make busy public spaces harder to navigate.

Wandsworth Council reported that hire e-bikes made around eight million journeys in the borough during 2025, with the total expected to exceed 10 million in 2026. The scale of use has increased the importance of clear parking arrangements and effective responses to complaints.

What powers does the council have?

The charter says the council can remove and impound bikes that operators fail to clear within the two-hour response period and can require operators to pay when they do not act. It also says companies must monitor and control illegal or dangerous cycling involving their hired e-bikes.

Wandsworth plans to publish monthly information on usage, complaints, penalties and fines. The council will review how the charter works and may amend it as needed, alongside changes to legal agreements with operators.

How residents can report badly parked hire bikes

Residents who find an e-bike or e-scooter blocking a pavement, road or public space can report it through the relevant operator app or website, or through Wandsworth Council website. Providing a clear location and explaining how the vehicle is obstructing access can help the issue be identified.

The council also plans to increase the number of designated e-bike parking bays and expand some existing bays in busy areas. The aim is to give riders more suitable places to leave vehicles while keeping pedestrian routes clear.

What happens next?

The charter places greater responsibility on operators to manage their fleets and respond quickly when problems are reported. Its effectiveness will depend on consistent enforcement, accessible reporting routes and enough properly located parking spaces.

For residents, the immediate advice is straightforward: report vehicles that create an obstruction and use designated parking areas where available. The council says it will monitor results and publish data to show how the scheme is performing.

Source and further information

This article is based on Wandsworth Council announcement published on 14 October 2026. Read the official Fair Use Charter announcement for reporting details and the council full list of requirements.