Are councils responsible for the e-bike wild west in the city?

Councils in London play a central role in the e-bike debate, managing deals with operators themselves despite public discontent over their behavior. However, councils may not be incentivised to improve journeys or reduce the burden placed on residents by dockless e-bikes. With nearly all 33 London councils taking independent approaches, there's a patchwork of agreements ranging from Memorandums of Understanding to multi-year exclusive contracts.

These contracts, while not giving councils the power to license operators, can significantly impact services and revenue generation. Exclusive contracts, which often include pricing as a consideration, tend to lead to worse service and exacerbate differences between boroughs due to their focus on revenue generation rather than improving inter-borough commuting.

These contracts often result in riders paying different prices based on borough boundaries, with some councils receiving substantial payments, while others may not receive any, creating an uneven landscape. Despite councils insisting their scoring processes are transparent, there are concerns about the prioritisation of revenue sharing and concession payments over service quality.

Indeed, costs are passed on to riders, and these arrangements may discourage competition among operators. With TfL planning to license all operators city-wide, the current system of council-operator deals may be set to change, potentially benefiting riders and pedestrians.