Brent Council has threatened to remove all Lime bikes from the borough by October 31 however some residents have spoken out against the plans.
The popular e-bike company and the council have been in partnership since 2019, but safety concerns arising from dangerously parked bikes blocking pavements and entrances have soured attitudes within the Brent community.
If a ban was to go ahead, Brent Council would become the first London council to remove Lime.
Brent Council has written a list of requests to Lime addressing the issues which if fulfilled could eliminate the threat of a potential ban.
The proposed demands include the introduction of designated parking bays, issuing penalties higher than the current £10 for bikes left in the wrong locations, and increased resources to quickly remove abandoned or inappropriately parked e-bikes.
Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of Brent Council hopes that improvements will be made soon.
He said: “Lime bikes left scattered across our streets are causing havoc for other road users, especially for pedestrians and disabled people.
“Something needs to change as the current situation is unsustainable and leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.”
🚲 @limebike has been notified that it must remove its dockless e-bikes from Brent by 31 October if it continues to ignore our safety concerns and suggestions for improvements to the scheme.
— Brent Council (@Brent_Council) September 2, 2024
Read more in our latest news release ➡️ https://t.co/M3plGcZZVE@MAsgharButt @kkrupas pic.twitter.com/ZX1msJzCis
However, there are still some who are uncertain of the impact these demands will have and believe that proposed changes need to be imparted from both sides of the partnership between Lime and Brent Council.
Brent Cycling Campaign expressed disappointment at the council’s response to the ongoing issue.
A spokesman said: “Lime and Brent Council must work together and stop this counterproductive blame game.
“We are surprised, given that other London boroughs have successfully addressed this issue for some time.
“Removing a popular zero emissions transport option is not the answer.”
Similar views were shared by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group in Brent and Councillor for Alperton, Anton Georgiou, who believes that a ban of the e-bikes would go against the Brent Active Travel Implementation Plan, which promotes walking and cycling.
He said: “We needed to see action throughout the past few years, rather than just at the end with this ultimatum.”
However, the issue is also deeply rooted within the Brent community and many people feel they have not received adequate support from the council over the last five years.
Yoga and massage teacher, Rita Ferris-Taylor, 67, has struggled with Lime bikes since their introduction to Brent five years ago and worries that the pavements are no longer safe for disabled pedestrians.
She said: “There has always been other clutter on the pavement, but now the bikes add to all of that, and I think they pose a bigger hazard because they’re very heavy and can fall on you if you try to move them.
“I have lost count of the number of times that bike riders have ridden up behind me and clipped me, which is difficult for me as I have osteoporosis, and a hit could be potentially very serious.”
She also expressed fears for her the safety of her husband, Tom Reid, 73, who is blind and now struggles to leave the house independently due to the added worry of managing Lime bikes strewn across the pavements.
These concerns however are not limited to Brent, and other boroughs have also experienced similar issues with the popular e-bikes.
In June 2023 Camden Council acquired powers to promote nearly 200 new designated parking bays with the aim of improving safety in the borough and encouraging active and healthy travel.
Lime bikes also cause frustration in south London, and boroughs such as Richmond upon Thames often see the e-bikes parked in inappropriate locations which crowd already limited standard cycle spaces.
A Lime spokesperson said: “We are proud to have worked with our partner councils over the last six years to build a safe and reliable shared e-bike service across London. Local people in Brent and across the capital use our bikes for essential journeys every day, with 11.5m commuting trips already taken this year.
“We recognise that a small proportion of e-bikes are obstructing pavements and busy junctions, creating difficulties for those with access needs, and we understand the importance of keeping our pavements safe for all. We regularly gather feedback from sight loss and disability charities to improve our operations.
“To enforce mandatory parking rules in Brent, we first need the council to build a functional network of parking locations. We can provide data and funding to support this process and regularly gather feedback from Sight Loss Councils and other charities on our disability advisory board to continuously improve our operations.
“We want to work with the council to address these concerns. Banning bikes doesn’t help anyone as we work towards our ambitious active travel and climate goals.”
Featured image credit: Natasha Cocksedge
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