Merton Council has outlined measures in place to help manage the poor parking of e-bikes in Wimbledon.

Following a surge in the use of e-bikes during the Wimbledon tennis championships, the local authority has highlighted its efforts to tackle parking problems around Wimbledon Village and Wimbledon Park.

In a statement yesterday, the council confirmed that it is collaborating with the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), Wandsworth Council, Lime, and Forest to ensure the demand for bikes is met safely.

It highlighted that e-bike companies are responsible for applying mandatory parking rules that were implemented last year, which call for hire bikes to be parked in designated bays to stop overcrowding.

New measures include the AELTC having established a dedicated pick-up and drop-off point for e-bikes in its car park, as well as the council expanding several of its regular parking bays.

Lime and Forest will also be boosting their staff numbers over the next fortnight to help manage the rise in users, with fines being issued to those parking improperly, while continuous rule breakers will be banned from using the apps.

‘The companies have a contractual obligation to clear these bikes. Where they fail to do this in the agreed timeframe, we have the right to seize their e-bikes’, the statement explains.

Cllr Stuart Neaverson, Cabinet Member for Transport and Cleaner Streets, said: ‘We are committed to making a success of e-bikes in Merton, but we will not accept poorly parked bikes that harm our community. I welcome the commitment of both companies to work with us to manage these bays properly, including making changes to their apps to make the rules even clearer.’

He added: ‘Whilst we’re vigilant to ensure our streets stay clear and safe, I don’t want to lose sight of how great it is to see so many people cycling their way to the Championships. It is a privilege to host the world’s favourite tennis tournament, and I’m proud to see sustainable travel at the heart of it.’