Cycling-friendly London borough finally set to introduce dockless hire bikes – but Labour accused of “desperate ploy” to win back Green voters

Waltham Forest Council, a London borough known for its 'Mini Holland' active travel scheme, has announced plans to reintroduce dockless hire bikes. This initiative comes after a seven-year absence, following the collapse of a previous agreement with Irish firm Urbo in 2017, which lasted only ten months. The new scheme, set to launch later this year, is intended to expand cycling options within the borough, though specific operators or timelines beyond "later this year" remain unconfirmed.

This reintroduction carries significant political weight, particularly given the borough's long-standing commitment to active travel infrastructure. Waltham Forest was an early adopter of segregated cycle lanes and low-traffic neighbourhoods, yet has conspicuously lacked a hire bike scheme for years. Critics, notably the local Conservative group, have labelled the timing a "desperate ploy" by the Labour-led council to appease Green voters ahead of upcoming elections, suggesting the move is more about political expediency than genuine long-term planning for sustainable transport.

Seven years is a long time to wait for a solution to a problem that was ostensibly solved for other boroughs. One might hope this iteration proves more robust than its predecessor, or at least lasts longer than a single electoral cycle.