Thousands of ebikes seized by London councils as anger rises over blocked paths

Lime, the California-based bike rental company, accounted for more than 2,000 of the seizures this year, according to figures from 19 reporting authorities. Photograph: Xiu Bao/Alamy

London boroughs have seized at least 3,000 ebikes this year, a Guardian investigation has found, as hire companies face growing calls to stop bicycles littering streets and blocking pavements.

Local authorities across the capital have seized 3,393 hazardously parked or abandoned ebikes so far this year, 23% higher than the number seized during all of 2025.