Electric bikes and scooters are available to rent in Northolt and Greenford for the first time, providing more travel options to residents in these areas.
These vehicles are now available to hire throughout the borough, better connecting the 7 towns and making it easier for people to choose cycling or scooting when travelling short distances.
‘Quicker and easier journeys’
E-bikes and scooters are becoming more popular, especially among young people – with a 75% increase in journeys in the borough last year, compared to the year before, according to electric vehicle company Lime.
Ealing Council leader 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.”
Using e-bikes and scooters safely
Travelling by e-bike or e-scooter can help to promote positive mental and physical health as well as reduce congestion and pollution, but residents have been frustrated with bikes and scooters being left in obstructive or dangerous places.
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 resource into moving and redeploying bikes.
“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.”
Residents can rent e-bikes and scooters through the Lime app and can rent scooters through the Voi app, with Voi e-bikes, a lighter-weight option, becoming available in the borough from today (Wednesday 30 April).
For more information visit the council’s website.
