Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment providing Members with the Dockless cycle hire trial outcome and setting out next steps.

A Member stated that he was minded to support the Officer recommendation of Option C. He added that he had used the bicycles himself during the trial and that his experience matched what was set out within the report. He went on to question whether it would be possible to restrict parking provisions for the bicycles on pedestrian space going forward and push this, instead, on to the street side given that there were clear aspirations to reduce traffic flow on the City’s roads anyway. Officers confirmed that the assumption was that future parking would be provided for on the carriageway.

Another Member referred to the compliance rate percentages referred to within the report and questioned how this translated in terms of how many bikes were not parked appropriately and were a potential hazard to elderly or disabled pedestrians. Officers undertook to come back to the Member on this point but reported that they were constantly trying to move towards ever higher compliance rates with hire/bicycle companies proactively addressing any issues as they arise.

A third Member spoke to state that she was delighted with the success of the trial but found it disappointing that unsuccessful operators continued to bring their bikes into the City. She questioned whether it would be possible to rank bikes in parking spaces once the scheme was opened up . She also noted that there would be little control over what bicycles were coming in to the City once the London-wide byelaw came into effect so sufficient parking spaces and appropriate infrastructure would be key. The Member questioned whether operators might also bear the costs of providing such infrastructure alongside the City of London Corporation.

Another Member concurred with the points made around adequate parking and suggested that Officers also explore what could be done with the organsation’s carparks, some of which occupied large spaces. Officers reported that they had already raised the option of utilising carparks with bicycle operators as a means of managing flows going forward. They would continue o explore this option further.

In response to further questions, Officers reported that they were continuing to monitor and adjust penalty charges where necessary. Operators were also keen to address this point and align charges with the forthcoming byelaw. Officers also undertook to come back to Members with further information regarding enforcement in general.

RESOLVED – That Members:

·         Agree Option C: Continue the parking arrangements as trialled and approve additional operators; and

·         Agree the extension of the current trial until 31 March 2020, allowing Beryl and Freebike to continue operating as-is while preparations are made to accommodate additional operators.