London plans one licence for dockless e-bikes, ending a 33-borough patchwork

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has set out plans for a single licensing framework for dockless e-bikes, run by Transport for London, to replace separate rules in the capital's 33 boroughs, Cities Today reported.

"The 'Wild West' approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue," Khan said, citing safety, inconsiderate parking "and the lack of data needed to properly manage them".

Data as a licence condition

Operators would face London-wide standards for vehicles, rider safety, parking, fleet management, enforcement and data sharing. TfL plans to use operator data to monitor compliance and find where more parking is needed, and wants the bikes better integrated with public transport.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 lets the transport secretary give TfL these powers, but secondary legislation and guidance are still required. TfL will start work with boroughs in the meantime. The Shared Micromobility Alliance and operators including Voi and Lime have called for a citywide regime.

Scale of the demand

Cycling trips in London have risen 43 per cent since 2019, the mayor's office says, and the Cycleways network has grown from 90 km in 2016 to more than 450 km. TfL estimates dockless bikes made up more than one in ten cycling journey stages in 2024. More than 36,000 micromobility parking spaces have been installed, with £1.7 million for boroughs this year.

Making data sharing a licence condition is the important part. A city that can see where bikes are used and abandoned can plan parking with evidence instead of complaints, and one set of rules is simpler for operators and riders than 33.