Call for Enforcement Action Against Badly Parked Lime Bikes
Conservatives urge Hounslow Council to follow TfL’s lead
Designated bays in the borough have not full solved the problem
June 19, 2025
The Conservative group on Hounslow Council is calling for enforcement action to be stepped up against dockless e-bike providers when their cycles cause an obstruction.
This demand came after the revelation that Transport for London (TfL) had issued over 330 Fixed Penalty Notices to companies such as Lime and Forest for offences on the roads and pavements it manages.
Citing serious safety and accessibility issues, TfL has adopted a new policy and is using CCTV to fine rental operators £100 per abandoned bike on its red routes.
Local councillors say that Chiswick in particular has become a hotspot for carelessly deposited bikes with pavements, crossings, and shopfronts routinely blocked. They are sceptical of Lime’s claims to use AI to limit obstructions and say that the council’s policy of designated bays for dockless hire bikes has not been fully successful and the scale of the problem is now unacceptable.
Cllr Peter Thompson, Leader of the Conservative Group, said, “I occasionally use Lime bikes myself; they’re convenient and quick. Things have got a little better since the introduction of parking bays for the bikes, but it’s nowhere near good enough. Residents are still tripping over bikes, dodging them on pavements, and reporting the same problems again and again. If TfL can issue fines, Hounslow Council should be doing the same.”
The Conservatives are calling on the council to adopt a formal enforcement policy for rental e-bikes on borough roads and pavements and issue fines to companies whose bikes repeatedly block public footways.
The issue has already sparked national debate, with the government promising new legislation to give local authorities more control over hire schemes.
“Residents shouldn’t need to file complaints every time a bike is dumped in front of their home. We need proactive enforcement, not just warm words,” Cllr Thompson added.
Councillor Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Transport at Hounslow Council, said, “We will continue to work closely with dockless e-bike operators to ensure stronger action is taken to improve on-street conditions, including through better enforcement and tackling the issues caused by the problematic parking and clustering of e-bikes and e-scooters across London.
“We are committed to ensuring the success of the e-bike rental scheme in Hounslow by promoting responsible parking and supporting our wider Kerbside Strategy.”
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