Council Calls on Lime to 'Redouble Efforts' to Counter Misuse
Agreement made to commit more resources to tackle unsafe use of bikes
Lime bike blocking the pavement in Brentford. Picture: Facebook
August 4, 2023
Hounslow Council has pledged to commit more resources and work with Lime to ensure that any harmful impacts of the ongoing bike hire scheme trial are reduced.
Although the scheme, in which designated bays have been provided for the parking of bikes, has seen a surge in rides made in the borough, this has been accompanied by increased complaints about bikes obstructing pavements.
Many of the problems with carelessly discarded bikes are believed to be caused by people who have hacked the bikes and are riding them without paying. They can be identified by the distinctive clicking sound the bike will make when ridden.
The trial scheme has recently been extended from Chiswick and Brentford into the west of the borough and it is understood that this has resulted in a new surge of reports to the council about anti-social use of the bikes.
In the first few weeks of the operation of the scheme over 1,800 fines were issued to users for parking incorrectly representing around 20% of rides. This number will not include cases in which bikes were used on an unauthorised based and then dumped outside a designated bay.
A statement has been issued by The Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Katherine Dunne said, "Hounslow Council supports initiatives that encourage more cycling in the borough to help make it a healthier and cleaner place. This is why we are helping to facilitate Lime’s pilot scheme for introducing e-bikes across the borough as part of a phased approach. Lime have stated that the vast majority using their bikes are responsible and considerate in how they operate the bikes. It is clear that a small minority are behaving in an anti-social and inconsiderate manner by attempting to abuse the scheme, which is causing inconvenience and potential danger to Hounslow’s residents, visitors and businesses. This behaviour is clearly unacceptable and could result in police action.
“After listening to feedback from our residents, we have asked Lime to redouble their efforts to address unsocial and unsafe use of their bikes in Hounslow and Lime have agreed to commit more resource to tackling this issue.
“I would urge residents to report any issues regarding abandoned bikes, suspected hacking attempts, noise and other operational issues to support@li.me in the first instance, who will be best placed to respond. This email address is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“To make the reporting more streamlined, we are also looking into ways residents can feedback to us using our existing channels and will let you know of any changes in the future.
“In the mean time we will continue monitor progress and feedback as this trial continues.”
Cllr Guy Lambert said in his weekly blog for BrentfordTW8.com that complaints about Lime bikes have been taking up an increased amount of councillors’ time adding, “Now you can only leave your bike in a defined bay and the cycle company will fine you if you don't leave it in the right place. You’d expect that to make discipline in where and how bikes are left to improve but instead it seems to have started a new sport which involves pushing them over and sometimes leaving them in the middle of the road. It's causing a lot of trouble at the moment both with people who are affronted by what's been done.”
Lime was unwilling to share updated data on the number of fines being issued but when asked about the hacking of it bikes a spokesperson said, “We are aware of the issue relating to the criminal damage and vandalism of our e-bikes. We are implementing a series of measures to prevent this antisocial behaviour, in addition to hardware solutions being rolled out throughout August and September. In the meantime, we are working with the police and local schools to identify, limit and warn against it.”
"We are also in contact with social media platforms, which bear the responsibility of removing criminal content like this if shared by its users. We ask users to report any videos circulating of tampering or vandalism of rental e-bikes to the relevant social media platform.”
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