Bicycles 'at risk of forcible removal'

Parked bicycles could be forcibly removed from London's pavements under new rules, cycle groups have claimed.

Councils are set to be given new powers that would allow them to remove "items" that cause blockages.

The London Cycle Campaign fears that over-zealous officials might use the rules to remove bicycles chained to fences, lamp posts or railings.

Campaign spokesman Tom Bogdanowicz said: "This could create a vast, unfair problem for cyclists who need to be able to park their bicycles. There simply is not enough parking in London despite us calling for more.

"If these rules are not changed, we could see indiscriminate removal of bicycles from pavements which will be a huge deterrent to people cycling at a time when we should be encouraging it."

The powers are due to come in under the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act next year.

According to the LCC's interpretation of the draft Bill, officials will only have to perform a "cursory" check to see if the owner of a bicycle is nearby before removing it, although this is denied by officials. The LCC has written to London Council, which is sponsoring the Bill, to object to the "extreme" changes and to ask for the legislation to be rewritten, specifically exempting bicycles.

It says: "The clauses are drafted so widely that any cycle could be removed, if necessary by breaking locks [which may cost up to £100], without remedy for the owner."

The LCC said it backs removal of abandoned bicycles but that even these should have a noticed fixed to them, giving the owner 28 days to act.

However, Nick Lester, transport director for London Councils, said: "The purpose of this clause is not to deal with bicycles.

"It is to deal with A-boards and other advertising that blocks the pavement for local residents and makes life difficult for the blind.

"If an official was dealing with a bicycle he would have to make some real effort to find the owner first and would have to put a notice on giving 14 days' notice."