Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Electric bikes and scooters launch in Northolt and Greenford as part of Ealing Council’s initiative to expand eco-friendly transport options across the borough.
As reported by Ealing News, residents now have a low-emission option for short trips thanks to the expansion, which allows bikes and scooters to be rented in all seven of Ealing‘s towns. In comparison to 2023, the borough’s use of e-bikes and scooters increased by 75% in 2024, according to operator Lime.
Leader of Ealing Council, Councillor Peter Mason said:
“Now that e-bikes and scooters are available to rent in Northolt and Greenford, we are one step closer to a more connected community, and I’m hopeful that they will make journeys quicker and easier for residents.
This expansion is part of the £28 million invested last year, to make it more convenient and safer for people to choose active forms of travel like cycling.”
Although the program’s advantages for air quality, congestion, and health are generally accepted, there has been some debate around it. Bikes and scooters being left in dangerous or inconvenient locations have alarmed locals.
Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, said:
“Most people use the bikes and scooters responsibly, but like anything new, there are some issues to be resolved. In the short-term, we have added 101 designated parking spaces and riders will be warned, then fined if they park outside these areas. Lime, one of the operators, has also put more resources into moving and redeploying bikes.”
Councillor Driscoll added that in the longer term, Transport for London is working with the operators and local councils to implement changes and enforcement methods to ensure we have everything at our disposal to allow people to use the bikes and scooters safely while keeping all our residents safe and able to travel around the borough easily.
The Lime and Voi apps allow residents of Ealing to rent e-bikes and scooters.
What are the penalties for parking e-bikes and scooters outside designated areas in Ealing?
Depending on the city or operator regulations, riders who fail to properly park shared e-bikes or e-scooters may be fined between $50 and $75.
For instance, customers who park outside of approved zones in Montreal may be fined $50, and operators in Calgary may impose fines on users who park improperly.
Users who leave their cars parked incorrectly after a ride, such as blocking sidewalks or leaving electronics in undesignated areas, are frequently subject to fines from shared micro mobility companies like Lime or Voi.
Each device’s unique ID is used to enforce these fines, and users can be reported by the general public.
Personal e-bikes or e-scooters that are not correctly parked may occasionally be booted, impounded, and subject to related storage or relocation costs, as at the University of Maryland.