For many older Londoners, the rise of electric bikes has been a double-edged sword.
While these vehicles are praised for their eco-friendliness, they’ve also become a growing nuisance—especially for those who rely on clear and accessible pavements.
One vocal critic of this issue is veteran actor Robert Powell, best known for portraying Jesus in Jesus of Nazareth.
At 81 years old, Powell says he’s had enough.
Four Years of Complaints and Still No Solution
Powell has been locked in a frustrating four-year standoff with Camden Council, fighting to get action over a major safety concern outside his Highgate home.
The problem?
Shared electric bikes are frequently dumped in front of his doorstep, sometimes blocking the entire pavement.
The actor claims he’s sent more than 570 photos to the council as evidence, pleading with them to do something about the chaos.
Powell, who lives with his wife, former dancer Barbara Lord, says they once counted over 100 bikes crammed into a nearby parking bay.
He’s particularly concerned about the safety of elderly residents, stating, “You’ve got two octogenarians here who are in danger of being killed.”
Bikes Without Boundaries: The Bigger Problem
In London, e-bikes can be rented through apps, allowing users to pick up and drop off the vehicles almost anywhere.
The downside is that many don’t bother parking them properly after use.
As a result, sidewalks and public areas are being taken over by bikes left scattered in inconvenient, and sometimes dangerous, spots.
This isn’t just a problem for Powell and his wife—councils across the city are dealing with a surge of similar complaints.
Powell said things got so stressful that he feared suffering a heart attack just from moving 10 to 12 heavy bikes every day.
His general practitioner even wrote to the council to highlight how the situation is affecting his and his wife’s wellbeing.
Police and Council Responses Leave Residents Disappointed
When the couple called the police last year, Powell says their concerns were dismissed.
“They just laughed,” he remarked bitterly. Although Camden Council has since acknowledged the issue, their initial response was sluggish.
Officials have now agreed to move the problematic bay further down the road and promised that they’re actively removing obstructive bikes during inspections.
A spokesperson from the council confirmed, “We’ve assured Mr Powell and Mrs Lord that we’re relocating the bay while working to secure a permanent solution.
While we promote active travel, we recognize that poor e-bike parking blocks access and poses real risks.”
Rental Firms and App Providers Begin to Step In
E-bike rental companies have also started to take notice.
While Lime declined to comment publicly, sources suggest the company agrees that the current parking location is overcrowded and should be moved.
Forest, another operator, went a step further—removing the bay from its app entirely and clearing the bikes they had in the area.
Forest’s Head of Policy, Alex Berwin, emphasized that while sustainable transport is important, it must work for everyone.
“We fully understand the frustrations of the resident,” he said, stressing their commitment to cooperate with local councils.
A Citywide Crackdown Begins
In response to the growing chaos, new powers were introduced late last year to curb the “Wild West” environment of e-bike and e-scooter parking.
These changes allow Mayor Sadiq Khan to penalize both users and operators who leave bikes in unsafe places.
Transport for London (TfL) has started warning rental companies that they may face fines or even be barred from operating in certain areas.
For example, Brent Council previously threatened to remove Lime from its borough due to safety concerns.
After negotiations and adjustments by the company, the ban was lifted.
In another case, Hammersmith and Fulham Council seized over 100 e-bikes after widespread complaints.
New Rules and Penalties to Rein In the Problem
TfL rolled out a new enforcement policy last November aimed at curbing careless parking.
The updated rules state that bikes must be parked in designated areas, especially on red route roads and near public transport hubs.
Offenders—whether individuals or companies—can now face fixed penalty notices of £100, reduced to £50 if paid quickly.
The plan is to bring e-bike rules more in line with existing regulations for rental e-scooters, which already require designated bay parking.
Enforcement measures could include warning letters, fines, prosecution, or the outright removal of bikes.
So, What Happens Next?
As councils and operators continue to grapple with the sudden boom in shared mobility, the challenge remains: how can cities like London support eco-friendly travel without turning pavements into obstacle courses?
For residents like Robert Powell, change can’t come soon enough.
The new enforcement tools are a start, but the real test lies in consistent implementation.
Until then, older residents, people with disabilities, and families pushing strollers may continue to struggle with the unintended consequences of convenience-based tech.