A decision by Wandsworth Council to confiscate 130 new rental bikes in the borough has prompted a massive backlash from cyclists.

The council seized the cycles, which were introduced to Wandsworth a month ago, after receiving a “flood of complaints” about them “cluttering pavements and causing obstructions”.

See related: Wandsworth Council confiscate more than 100 oBikes following 'flood of complaints'

The bikes were introduced as a competitor to the Mayor’s cycle scheme, but the main difference is that Obikes do not use docking stations.

Cyclists use an app to unlock and lock the bikes so can leave them anywhere in the borough.

When oBike launched in London, the Singapore-based company said it would “provide a convenient, environmentally-friendly mode of transportation”.

The council’s transport spokesman Jonathan Cook said: “We all want to encourage cycling and other sustainable forms of transport but it is rather naïve to simply dump thousands of bicycles on London’s streets without any warning or discussion beforehand.”

The round-up comes after the Greater London Authority’s walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman said the GLA has the power to remove bikes from the streets if “they are causing any dangers or obstructions”.

However, after the council tweeted its decision stating “If obike is wondering what’s happened to all their grey and yellow bikes in Wandsworth, here’s the answer”, more than 100 commenters expressed their anger with the decision.

Many people accused the council of prioritising money over the environment and uploaded pictures of illegal parking in the borough.

Wandsworth Times:

Jonathon Horsman supplied a photo of cars parking illegally in Franciscan Road

CyclingMikes said: “When are you going to start removing all the cars parked on the pavements everywhere? Only bikes? Not doing your job.”

Ian Fenn said: “It seems rather mean-spirited and unhelpful.

“And why don't you do it with all the cars dumped in Wandsworth?”

Others urged the council to supply “more bike stands so that people have good secure places to lock up the bikes” and some suggested liaising with the company would be more productive than taking the bikes off the streets.

Michelle said: “A company contributes to public transport at no cost to the council.

“Perhaps working with them using parking would be more productive.”

Local cycling campaigner Jon Irwin, who has been lobbying the council for years for more bike stands and hangers, said the provision for people to cycle in Wandsworth is “dismal”.

He said: “This is despite the huge potential for people to cycle with many who work within six miles of where they live and large numbers of families living locally who could cycle if only the streets were safer.

“Instead of welcoming the arrival of this new transport option, using it to highlight the poor cycle parking provision and lack of safe cycle routes, the council has chosen to remove as many of these hire bikes as they can find.

“Small wonder campaigners have little faith that the council is serious about the healthy streets agenda.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “It’s important that London’s streets are kept clear of clutter, yet oBike basically dumped hundreds of their bikes across the capital without any consultation.”

“Dockless bikes have real potential to make cycling more accessible, but they cannot be randomly strewn across London, causing disruption to other cyclists, road users and pedestrians.”

Councillor Cook added the council was “happy” to support a cycling initiative “but without a drastic re-think, and proper consultation with all the capital’s highway authorities this particular scheme, as it stands, is not the answer.”

An oBike spokesperson said: "We are disappointed with Wandsworth Council's decision to impound our bikes and are working closely with authorities and relevant stakeholders across London to find solutions to the issue of indiscriminate parking.

"These include increasing the number of public bike-parking areas and reaching out to users on the responsible ways to park our bikes.

"We are committed to making bike-sharing work in London so that everyone can continue to enjoy and benefit from the service."