Haringey residents called for a crackdown on improper parking of e-bikes which is causing pavements to become blocked.
A photograph uploaded onto the Nextdoor app, taken by Sunny Sarfraz, showing the bikes blocking a pavement sparked others to voice their concerns over the issue which has been occurring more frequently.
Particularly affected by bikes blocking walkways are those who are disabled or have accessibility issues such as 63-year-old Kim Philpot from Bethnal Green, who recounted an incident where an e-bike nearly fell on her and her one-year old Pommeranian.
Philpot said: “[The e-bikes] filled the pavement up and I had to walk between two parked cars and into the road.
“If they had fallen on the dog they would have seriously injured or killed him, as these bikes are very heavy.”
Another resident, Monica Dunne, 67, uses a mobility scooter to get around after suffering a stroke.
She sometimes has to turn around and go home, ruining her plans for the day because the dumping of e-bikes blocks her route.
Dunne said: “I can’t understand how somebody will just throw a bike on the ground, length-way across the path.
“They don’t realise the nuisance they can be and the hardship that they give people, and the disappointment of not being able to do what you were going to do.”
Those with pushchairs and people affected by sight loss are also affected by e-bikes blocking pavements.
E-bike riders are required to use their phone to unlock and verify, with some brands costing a minimum fee of £10.
When ready to park, the app requires users to take a picture of the bike parked in order to end the ride.
However, users have been able to bypass this by unlocking the bikes without paying.
Kim said: “I understand that these are a good idea for people who want to use them, but the good users are being tainted as bad by the ones who don’t use them correctly.”
One Haringey councillor has called for stronger action to be taken to prevent these e-bikes being improperly parked and causing issues for those in the community.
Council cabinet member for climate action, environment and transport Mike Hakata said: “Where improper parking of e-bikes on pavements occurs, it creates significant accessibility issues for pedestrians, disabled and older people, as well as those with buggies and pushchairs navigating local streets.
“Along with other councils, we have campaigned for more controls and the introduction of regulation, so are pleased that the government is bringing forward new legislation that we can use to ensure that these schemes work for the benefit of everybody.”
Featured Image: Sunny Sarafraz (NextDoor)
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