Dockless bikes make travel easier, but poor management has turned them into dangers on our streets. Labour’s Westminster Council has failed to act. Conservatives will take firm action: fine operators, clear pavements, and make Westminster safe and accessible for everyone again. We spoke to Westminster Council's Conservative Opposition Leader, Cllr Paul Swaddle, to hear why it's time for effective management of e-bikes.
As a dockless bike user, I know how convenient they can be, and how they make getting around our city easier and greener. However, the reality of how they are managed is a complete failure, and it’s making life difficult and dangerous for too many people in Westminster.
All too often, these bikes are dumped. They are left blocking pavements, creating trip hazards for the elderly and for parents with buggies, and becoming dangerous obstacles for the visually impaired. They end up cluttering our streets and blocking essential access points. This isn't a minor inconvenience; it's a serious public safety issue.
The Labour-run City Council is simply not tackling this problem. They claim they don’t have the powers needed, and they lack the will to act, letting the issue spiral out of control.
Just look at our neighbours in Kensington and Chelsea (K&C), run by the Conservatives. They’ve shown what real leadership looks like. In just a two-week period, K&C took a firm stance: they imposed fines of £50,000 on bike operators and removed hundreds of illegally or badly parked bikes from the streets, impounding them. They found a solution that works for local people, not just for the hire companies.
This is the decisive action Westminster needs. We cannot continue to let bike riders treat our streets and pavements as their dumping ground.
My pledge is clear: if the Conservatives are elected to run Westminster, we will take immediate and firm action. We will use every power available to hold operators to account, levy substantial fines, and remove badly or illegally parked bikes until our pavements are clear and safe for everyone.
It’s time Westminster was run by a team with the will to fight for local people, not by a council that shrugs its shoulders.
