The Council is set to discuss a new initiative on 4 February to boost cycling in the borough by improving dockless cycle hire and ensuring streets stay clear and safe.
- Cabinet will look at making dockless cycle hire more accessible while ensuring streets remain clear and safe with parking bays and a six-month pilot programme.
- Dockless cycle hire will help address barriers like bike affordability and storage.
- Council proposes to install 875 new electric vehicle chargers in partnership with Redbridge and Waltham Forest, advancing Newham’s goal of 3,000 chargers by 2030.
The Council is expected to announce next week (4 February) a new initiative to boost cycling in the borough by making dockless cycle hire easier to use, while introducing measures to ensure the borough’s streets remain clear and safe for all.
Cycling provides significant benefits to health, the environment, and the climate. However, research shows that across London, half of all residents do not own or have access to a bike, and a quarter face challenges with storage. In response, the Council has developed plans to regulate dockless cycle hire, offering a flexible and affordable way for residents to cycle without needing bike ownership or storage, whilst also keeping pavements clear of obstacles.
Councillor Sarah Ruiz, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainable Transport, Children’s Services, and Education, said: “We want Newham to be a borough where everyone is empowered to cycle. By addressing barriers such as the cost of buying a bike and the lack of secure storage, we are ensuring that all residents can benefit from cycling - from improving physical and mental health to reducing our environmental impact - while providing an affordable transport option.
“Dockless cycle hire services play a key role in increasing access to cycling, especially for short, local journeys. However, we are equally committed to keeping Newham’s streets clear, safe, and accessible for all. Poorly managed dockless cycles can cause unnecessary hazards, which is why we are proposing specific parking spaces to prevent blocked footways - helping us build a fairer, greener, and more active Newham for everyone.”
The proposals, to be heard at a Cabinet meeting next week, include:
- Formal parking bays to prevent footways from being blocked (the initiative does not cover e-scooter use).
- A six-month pilot scheme in areas where dockless cycle services currently operate, including Stratford Olympic Park, Stratford, Maryland, West Ham, Canning Town North, Canning Town South, and Royal Victoria.
- Operators will digitally geo-fence all areas outside designated parking bays, encouraging responsible parking. Financial penalties and disincentives will discourage improper parking.
- Residents will be encouraged to report incorrectly parked bikes directly to operators or via the Love Clean Streets app, ensuring quick removal.
For further details, visit the Newham Council website.
In a separate green initiative, to be discussed at the same Cabinet meeting, the Council will join forces with the London Boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest to appoint a Charge Point Operator (CPO) to install, maintain, and manage at least 1,375 electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the three boroughs.
Under this scheme, a minimum of 875 chargers will be installed in Newham, increasing the total number of chargers in the borough to 2,135. This marks significant progress towards Newham’s target of 3,000 chargers by 2030, helping meet future demand as more people transition to electric vehicles under the UK Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) mandate.
For more information on this initiative, visit the Newham Council website.
