Forum Topic

E-Bike Trial front page

The problem with designated parking is it will be ignored by some. I continue to see people riding these lime bikes with lock on as they have not payed to unlock. I think these are reasons why some are dumped in the most stupid of places. If i was in charge at the council id first make sure the locks on the bikes are changed so they cant be ridden without hire thus stopping them being ridden and dumped without any ID to who was on the bike. Why oh why if we have designated parking can they not be locked to a docking station. If we cant have santander then why cant other operators use the same docking scheme Just a thought

Julian Pavey ● 1253d8 Comments

Lime bikes have a lock that goes through the back wheel I thought? How do people ride them with the lock still on?

Ed Saper ● 1253d

Probably not a good idea to explain on a public forum how to overcome the lock but Julian is right. It is now common place to see young lads riding with a loud clicking noise coming from the bike which is a sure sign the lock has been disabled.I was pleased to see Hounslow aren't allowing the scheme to run without payment from the operator unlike the Mobike fiasco.

Adrian Irving ● 1253d

The problem with speed limits is that they will be ignored by some.Doesn't mean we shouldn't have speed limits.Designated parking for e-bikes is surely a good thing if the designated parking places are chosen sensibly e.g. on the roadway rather than on pavements?Docking stations presumably cost a lot more money (£1000s+?) than just designated parking spaces.I don't disagree that the operators of the e-bikes should be able to ID who is riding their bikes, and that the locks shouldn't be easy to disable. I genuinely don't know how prevalent this is, so I've no idea if it's a major problem - but I'm quite prepared to accept it could be an issue.

Andrew Jones ● 1253d

Quite a few online videos showing how to by-pass both the lock and trscker. The 'tell-tale' sound is a clicking from the broken lockas they are ridden. Sadly heard all too often.

N V Brooks ● 1253d

Sadly there are lots of selfishly parked Lime bikes locally. My husband has taken to moving them out of the way when he encounters them on pavements.  There does need to be a review of the way the bikes are hired and off hired,  I too have seen (and heard) people riding them with that loud clicking noise.

Nora Watkins ● 1253d

Just before lunchtime yesterday I passed three 'yoof' on Boston Manor Road (not on the bike lane but that's another matter). All riding Lime bikes all of which were clacking from their broken locks. Lime need to acknowledge this problem and beef up security.

N V Brooks ● 1252d

The Ealing borough part of Chiswick already has  council approved operation of hire bikes as well as e-scooters. As far as I can see the use of the designated parking areas is well observed and obstructions are rare. If I see a bike potentially blocking the pavement, then I move it. All the designated bays are on the pavement and no car parking bays have been taken. A carelessly discarded hire bike causes a lot less bother than a carelessly parked car.If there are issues for some people they are not on the scale of those seen with Mobikes.Personally, I've only used Lime once and found it not to be that great value and a disappointing ride but there can be no doubt that these e-bikes are becoming increasingly popular. There is a sub-set of people who would like to cycle more but don't have any where to store a bike or for whom an outright purchase would be uneconomic given the amount of times they would use it. This group seems to be quite substantial given the proportion they represent of cyclists even on Chiswick High Road where the scheme isn't officially operating yet.Hounslow Cpuncil's reasoning seems to me sound. If you adopt these schemes officially you can exercise some level of control. They are probably going to be introduced London wide in a couple of years anyway and so if you run your own borough scheme you can generate revenue in the meantime.

Mark Evans ● 1251d

I sincerely hope that Lime enforce their fine for dumping when the trial expens.Drive just over the borough border 8nto Ealing and, yes you will see the dedicated drop off areas used along with any number of sites where they are simply dumped. The record so far nine Lime and five Dott bikes dumped, literally, on the small forecourt of Elthorne Park. Dott were remarkably swift to recover, Lime somewhat less

N V Brooks ● 1251d