Earlier this year, Ealing Council announced it was clamping down on bike delivery riders parking on cycling and bus lanes as well as double yellows and pavements when collecting orders from restaurants. But residents and cyclists are questioning what action the council has implemented as riders continue to flout the law.
Cyclists say they are being endangered by the delivery riders who continue to park in the lanes as well as double yellow lines and lack of action by the council encourages more riders to break the law.
In February 2023, Councillor Deirdre Costigan, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for climate action said: “The safety of our residents and all road users is a top priority for the council. It’s not safe, or legal, for riders to be parking up so close to premises, and in some cases on the pavements. This is a problem many local authorities are facing and Ealing is tackling this head on.
“We have kick started a ground-breaking partnership with the delivery companies so that we can work together to tackle the parking issues that have been raised by residents. We are also stepping up our own enforcement and carrying out joint operations with the police to stop bad driver behaviour.”
But according to Ealing residents including cyclists, the council has yet to show how it has clamped down on the riders from delivery companies including Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats who are still breaking the law on a daily basis.
James from Ealing Broadway told EALING.NEWS he hasn’t seen any improvements in the area. “These delivery riders are still parking on pavements, still parking on cycle and bus lanes and still ignoring the laws that are there. How long will it be before someone is injured or killed before the council enforces this?”
In Ealing Broadway, hamburger chain McDonalds has even put a notice on its entrance reminding drivers not to park illegally. It tells the drivers: “Please do not park your vehicle on the main road as it’s serious health and safety risk.”
But despite the notice, the delivery drivers are regularly parking outside on double yellow lines and bus and cycling lanes.
Jane, a cyclist who regularly cycles through Uxbridge Road where McDonalds in Ealing Broadway is located told EALING.NEWS: “It just gets worse and worse for everyone and the council and police don’t seem to be doing anything. Bus lanes and cycling lanes are there for a reason but the delivery drivers just continue to park there making it dangerous for everyone.”
Residents say that without ongoing viable presence and fining those who break the rules, the issue will continue.
Satinder from Southall who was visiting Ealing Broadway for shopping told EALING.NEWS: “It really is bad. Why are they allowed to park like this and get away with it? It only encourages more and more to do this. It seems like no one is in charge and so these riders are getting away with it. Why would they park like this if they knew they would be fined.”
Leader of Ealing Liberal Democrats, Councillor Gary Malcolm told EALING.NEWS that Ealing Council needs to take a tougher stance to delivery riders breaking the rules: “I have seen this type of bad behaviour from a range of different companies’ riders and the Council appears not to have taken a tough approach. Liberal Democrats would take a firmer line making sure that companies breaking the rules would be highlighted, called out and strong action taken. In Acton I have seen them causing havoc near one national fast food chain. Enough is enough.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “Ealing Council is aware of the issues caused by the rise in popularity of delivery apps, which has led to an increased number of moped drivers in the borough. The Council has struck a partnership with three major food delivery companies to tackle parking problems caused by some of its drivers. We are also stepping up our own enforcement and carrying out joint operations with the police to stop bad driver behaviour.
“The council is working closely with Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat to resolve the issues and two of these firms have already placed pop up messages in their driver apps to warn against illegal parking. The council’s parking services team has also produced maps for the bikers to show where they can safely and legally park.
“Improving road safety for cyclists is an important part of our work to encourage more residents to walk and cycle, particularly for short, everyday journeys. Cycle lanes are an important part of that, and the council does enforce against cars and other vehicles using or parking in those lanes during restricted hours.”
