When luxury Londoners wake up to find that their council has replaced their parking spaces with e-bike bay – only cyclists ignore cyclists, and cyclists have nowhere to stop

As John McEnroe undoubtedly proves, Wimbledon knows the bad line share over the years. But few people disturb the tranquility of the suburbs of Southwest London, like the decision by local councils to replace valuable street parking with dedicated e-bike bays.

As residents parked on the streets of the area even before the phased installation of 350 planned bicycle rental attractions, only seeing broken white lines accompanied by the term “bike-only rental” is enough to send some locals into a stroke.

The Labour-Run Merton Council initiative is part of a broader plan by London Mayor Sadiq Khan to address the problems left by parked or abandoned e-bikes on the sidewalk where they could become a safety hazard for people with disabilities or parents to push travelers.

While this seems like a commendable ambition in principle, Merton has not yet reached an agreement with a borough-run rental company, meaning e-bike users are not obliged to use the newly created space.

As a result, electronic riding is often scattered across the streets, while the bays designed to accommodate them are empty.

Nahian Khan, a resident of densely populated Abbott Avenue, the site of one of about 220 e-bike cabins launched by Merton so far, said the plan puts additional pressure on parking lots in areas that are already fiercely competitive.

“Even before the introduction of e-bike bay, it’s often difficult to find a spot near your home, especially at night or on weekends,” Khan said. Petition to Reconsider Merton The introduction of the bay.

“Many of us spent too long hovering on nearby streets or parking far away.

An e-bike bay was introduced on Abbott Street in Wimbledon, southwest London, which shocked many residents, some of whom claimed they had not been consulted

Just like things, the introduction of rental bike parking lots on Gibbons Street has little impact, and users continue to park their bikes anywhere except for the designated space

“Even if you delete a space, especially without warning, it has a chain reaction. It’s more than just a car space: increasing pressure, competition and tension in parking spaces. For people with mobility difficulties, toddlers or job changes, this can make life even harder.

“Many of us rely on our cars – they are not only a luxury, but they are crucial to our lives.”

The lack of understanding of the process only deepens local frustration. Although the Merton Commission said each bay was bound by statutory consultation, “propaganda at the location, online, and in local newspapers,” many residents complained that the spaces were only declared on them.

“There is real frustration,” Khan added. “The neighbors here are folk and community-minded, but many are excellent in their consistency: we don’t support this move.

The biggest problem is the complete lack of consultation. After installation, we only found the electronic bicycle cabin. No letters, no flyers, no attention. It feels like doing it to us, not being with us – that’s the most tingling thing.

However, the Merton Commission insisted that consultations were conducted at the Bay location under data and guidance from London Transport Company, local knowledge, observed evidence of use and information from neighboring boroughs and councils.

“Every bay on the road is subject to legal consultation,” a council spokesman said. “These are advertised at these locations, online and in local newspapers.”

“While these consultations are not votes, we will review the plans respondents to identify serious shortcomings in any particular bay – in fact, many of the proposed bays were withdrawn or adjusted due to feedback.”

Liberal Democratic MP Anthony Faircloough accused Lauren of “putting shopping carts in front of horses” before negotiating with bike companies by installing e-bike Bay

Abandoned rental e-cycles and scooters have become a common sight throughout the capital, making the city a minefield for people with disabilities, and those who push children

Wimbledon resident Sally Gibbons said the e-knight has hardly considered “if you encounter a 32 kg locked bike on the sidewalk and take a wheelchair or baby tramway’

This project is not cheap. The Council estimates that the total cost will be £140,000, and the figure covers consultation, staff and implementation (including posts, signs and road markings).

Previous documents issued by the Council set the cost of the two bays at £2,630, which would total £350, or £463,750.

Funding will come from the London Microtour Program 2025/26, which aims to reduce the use of private cars by enabling more people to ride bikes and use e-bikes and scooters.

However, many locals are more concerned about the impact of the program than any dent in the civic library.

On a short walk on Abbott Avenue, Wimbledon Chase Station, on a bicycle bay on Oxford Avenue, a CUL-DE-SAC adjacent to the London-Sutton Railway route, proved to be the same controversy.

“It has appeared recently and has occupied valuable parking spaces,” said an Oxford Avenue resident. “It’s blight on the street.”

“I only saw one bike actually staying in the bay – others just scattered on the sidewalk nearby.”

For Sally Gibbons, this is the problem with Naboo. Although she welcomed the introduction of dedicated bicycle parking lots on the safe field and believed that e-bikes were “a perfect concept in the city”, Gibbons’ initial enthusiasm for the program had been alleviated by the lack of access to these spaces by the e-knights.

Within 100 meters of each other, the three schools on this Wimbledon Road have few parking lots and traffic is often chaotic – but the local council has installed two e-bike parking lots

School buses and delivery trucks will only add to the regular scenes on the edge of the hill

During school runs, the traffic on this Wimbledon street was busy, and the presence of ice cream vans made

“I think the bay is a good thing, but we slam the head against the brick wall before changing the law to make it forced,” Gibbons said.

“When they first went in, they were absolutely empty. Gradually, people started using them, and sometimes I do see a day now, with eight bikes. But I also saw bikes parked on the sidewalk next to them on the bay.

“I don’t have a car, my husband’s legs are a little shaky these days and can’t negotiate the weird objects left in the middle of the sidewalk – many are much worse than him.

“If you come across a 32kg lock bike parked on the sidewalk and you happen to have a wheelchair or stroller, people just don’t think [about the hazards]. ‘

Few areas feel the problem more acutely than Edge Hill, where one of the two e-bike cabins has been installed on a road The three schools are less than 100 meters from each other.

With the chaos of traffic in the school running, the moves of accommodated bikers only increased, with beeping every morning, communicating with residents and mumbling rage and mumbling mumbling debris.

“It’s a banana to get off at Edge Hill in the morning,” said Kathryn, 43. “There are people who are not doing well on the road most days.

‘Stop residential driveways is standard; there are illegal turns on already narrow roads, and when children walk to school, cars must install sidewalks to make room for vehicles passing in the opposite direction.

On this Wimbledon Street, traffic extends to the eye. “We will get out as early as possible to avoid confusion,” said local resident Katherine.

The Council replaced much-needed parking spaces for lime bikes. It doesn’t make sense: the road is already short in safe parking spaces. We will get off as early as possible to avoid confusion.

Kathryn’s feelings are reflected by residents who cannot access off-street parking lots, many of whom complain about not being able to use cars during the day because they are snapped up the moment they leave.

Leeds, 45, said: “I think there was a war in the car.

“Surprisingly, all teachers seem to drive to school from Monday to Friday. They all parked on the edge of the hill, and each space was occupied.

“If you are a resident, don’t drive, and you dare to leave, you will come back and have nowhere to park. The space for e-bikes becomes more difficult.

“I think it’s a big change: It affects people who own cars and need parking, not benefiting more from cyclists.

“Some riders are very unconsidered and removing the parking space to put in the e-bike space has not changed their behavior.

“They still leave them in stupid places, so that means it doesn’t work for most people who ride a bike.”

With the pace of Sadiq Khan’s initiative, the issue is likely to be replicated in many London boroughs, highlighting the need for the Council to reach an agreement with bike companies that bike users park only in designated areas.

Merton’s Liberal Democratic MP Anthony Faircloough accused the labor-run parliament of installing the bay before negotiating with the bicycle company to “put the cart on the horse.”

Gibbons noted that there are techniques that will force e-magazineists to start and complete their journey in only designated areas. All that is missing is the legal framework required for law enforcement.

“Sadly, we are not good at keeping up with the legal, fiscal and local infrastructure we are seeing so far the legal, fiscal and local infrastructure needed to keep pace with the rate of technological change,” Gibbons said.

‘Local councils need to be able to provide parking for electric bikes. Cyclists who are required to use these brackets are required by law.

“This requirement cannot be enforced until the government changes laws to include bicycles in parking and road usage regulations. From every perspective, this is a completely frustrating situation. ”