Increase in Lime Bikes on LL

[first mate]

 Mal, did you intervene to get Cllr Williams to write the letter? I cannot see why or on what grounds anyone would give it a thumbs down?!

[David Peckham]

That'll learn them, eh, Malumbu?

Nothing puts the sh!ts up an Uber bank-rolled multinational like a strongly worded letter from a nobody.

Edited June 16, 2023 by David Peckham
Sp

[jazzer]

Let's see what happens and if Lime take note. The Council have given due notice and those disguarded bikes and scooters will be removed awaiting collection and settlement of due fee's to be paid. 

It's a shame Lewisham don't do the same. 

Edited June 16, 2023 by jazzer

[Rockets]

Loads of Lime bikes uniformly placed along a large part of Court Lane this evening - too uniform to be random.

 

This is fast becoming a real mess of a strategic policy, which looks and feels like it is part-baked and being really rushed with poor execution, and could backfire massively on councils across the country as disgruntled residents will blame them - it's a bit embarrassing that a council leader has to send a letter - do we suspect Lime have not been listening to/ignoring previous outreach/correspondence?

I mean, who could have possibly seen this coming: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63647238 - it's only happened in every place the bikes have been allowed.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

4 hours ago, malumbu said:

Copy of Southwark letter - hopefully you will all be pleased.  Why not give me a thumbs up or thumbs down.  Thanks to ED Pete who put the letter up on another thread

 

👍👍👍

That seems a perfectly reasonable response by Southwark. Certainly more reasonable than what I would do (immediately nationalise poorly parked bikes and order the CEO to do 10 hours community service for each obstructed pavement).

Edited June 16, 2023 by Dogkennelhillbilly

[wordsworth]

Isn't this getting a tad tedious or are you all enjoying the to n fro back n forth I know smthg more or less? 

[Bic Basher]

Isn't this just what Labour run Wandsworth did earlier this year?  They started removing Lime bikes from the borough's pavements.

[first mate]

On 22/05/2023 at 09:34, exdulwicher said:

The e-bikes aren't on a trial scheme, it's the e-scooter rental scheme that is being trialled.

In the council report it says e-bikes are on trial in Southwark until May 2024; the e-scooter trial is across all London.

They will be extending parking bays across the whole borough but claimed in the report that (at that point) parking was not an issue. They aim to introduce cargo bikes for hire.

This is all to meet the mission points in their 2020 Movement plan, but I do not remember that being mentioned in their most recent manifesto. I cannot recall any sort of consultation on any of this, can anyone else?

[AcedOut]

This is the "you will own nothing and be happy society". These things are littered everywhere on my street. Someone needs a word with the council about this idiocy.

[first mate]

I think it is going to be a very frustrating transition period, probably for the council too and Cllr Williams' letter to Lime shows they are all too aware. 

The problem is it all looks a great idea on paper ( and helps the council tick off points on its Movement Plan) but human behaviour gets in the way. 

There is probably enough information on how the e-bike schemes have bedded in elsewhere, including other countries, to have meant some of the current issues could have been anticipated and maybe better planned for.

Do we know if at the end of the trial period next year there will be any sort of consultation?

[Emma Bailey]

They're stolen ones apparently. Noticed more and dumped all over the pavements in Forest Hill too over last few weeks. Middle of pavement etc..

[heartblock]

If only - I have seen a Lime Bike van dumping them all over the pavement....videoed it and sent it to Southwark Council. It's a business not a Green Charity. No care or responsibility to the local residents. 

[Spartacus]

I have had great fun watching the antics of kids concerning a lime bike near the front of where I live

Twice I've seen kids (early to mid teens) pick the back of the bike up, run a few steps then drop the back wheel to "crack" the lock. 

Both times they failed and just left the bike where it was. 

I wonder if there are statistics available on how many legitimate hires occur verses how ofter the rider has cracked the lock? 

[Rockets]

Yeah I saw a group jacking three of them near Alleyns last week. They lift the rear wheel,

 run with the front wheel on the ground then drop the rear wheel to break the lock and off they go….click, click, click, click

[Bic Basher]

There were kids playing with another jacked Lime bike on the Lordship Lane Estate earlier.   It does make a really loud repetitive clicking noise.

[richard tudor]

If the clicking noise means it has been jacked and can heard why do the police not arrest the riders. Make the parents pay the hire charge.

[malumbu]

Correct me if I am wrong.  The broken ones will not work with battery boost.  They weigh about the same as a small car, so not much fun pedaling although good for your leg muscles.

[first mate]

Had no idea they were that heavy; not so easy to move around unless unlocked then. I say this because it has been suggested elsewhere that good citizens should simply move bikes left blocking paths etc... to somewhere more appropriate.

[Spartacus]

Simply lift the back wheel and move them that way

After all if the average 12 year old can then I'm curious If Mal is referring to a Tonka car 😅

[CPR Dave]

When are the council going to start clearing all the other obstructions off the pavements like peoples bins, overgrown hedges, fly tipped rubbish, litter, broken glass and all the dog shit everywhere.

These bikes are a nuisance, sure, but they also have some utility, unlike all the other detritus the council seem quite happy to ignore.

[Bic Basher]

I spotted a teen on a Lime Bike in Penge today which is well out of the coverage area for them.   It didn't make the clicking sound and the e-assist appeared to be working, but I believe it had been jacked.

When I've used a Lime bike in the boundary area, the speed limit will drop to 10mph (you'll see a tortoise icon on the dash) and when you are out of the riding area, it will slow to a crawl, so there appears to be another hack to get those bikes working outside the approved area as well.

[Bic Basher]

Lime bikes can no longer be parked on council estates within Southwark.  You can ride through them and park on the boundary.

Bizarrely, Lime bikes can still be parked in Dulwich Park, but not in Belair. 

Edited June 30, 2023 by Bic Basher

[AcedOut]

S-Lime bikes are becoming a blight on the area. I'm tripping over the darn things every time I leave my home. Eghhh!

Can't we all just start owning things again whist still being happy?

Edited June 30, 2023 by AcedOut

[first mate]

London Cycling Campaign and therefore Southwark Cyclists are in some sort of a partnership with Lime (not sure of exact nature of this just going by LCC website). Can those organisations put pressure on Lime to come up with solutions to pavement cluttering etc?

[heartblock]

Aaah ok - it all makes sense now. Well I'm all for easy access bikes and electric bikes, but they are creating a hazard for partially sighted residents, wheel-chair users and people with mobility and balance issues. I might contact some disability and access for all pressure groups and ask them to lobby Southwark Council to pick up bikes obstructing pavements - maybe the parking team can remove and impound? 

https://bikebiz.com/lime-to-collaborate-with-london-cycling-campaign/amp/

lime bike -LCC 'partnership'