Lime bikes in their (un)natural habitat?

GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Bike riding is definitely a healthy pursuit, even on our dangerous, vehicle dominated local roads.

However, when does environmental and health beneficial behaviour become a health and safety issue?

Well one answer is when a rent-a-bike company starts to flout their own rules and allow riders to stray or deliberately cycle onto area where the operator does not have a licence.  The problem is particularly prevalent in Sunbury, with bikes being coming out from the adjacent London boroughs.

Lime rental bikes are ubiquitous throughout Greater London, including Hounslow and Richmond. However, until recently you would have to travel into London to find one of these bikes.  Many London boroughs have had issues with the way that Lime (and other bike rental companies) run their businesses, with some councils handing out hefty fines to the company as a result of abandoned bikes being left in places where they cause a hazard – especially on footpaths.

Recently Cllr John Turner removed one of these bikes from the footpath outside Sunbury Library and nearly put his back out.  These electric bikes are seriously heavy weighing about 35Kg.  They are being abandoned in parks, footpaths, roads and in places where they are at best an eyesore and worse still a danger to health.  They are a particular hazard to people with restricted mobility or poor eyesight.

What is to be done?

In response to Cllr Turner’s enquiries Spelthorne Council’s Neighbourhood Services confirmed that Lime do not have a licence to operate in Sunbury, or anywhere else in Spelthorne.  Spelthorne Council is regularly collecting the abandoned bikes and demanding a fee from Lime to get them back. 

Reporting irresponsible and dangerous bike riders to Lime is difficult – their website does not invite complaints.  The best solution at present is to report instances of anti-social behaviour by riders, including dangerous speeding or riding on footpaths, to Spelthorne Council, who liaise with the Police and will take action on reports of abandoned bikes.

Please contact us with any information you may have about rental bikes, even those of you who want to access them locally.

Cllr John Turner: cllr.turner@spelthorne.gov.uk
Cllr Lawrence Nichols: cllr.nichols@spelthorne.gov.uk 
Cllr Sandra Dunn: cllr.dunn@spelthorne.gov.uk