Forum Topic

Lime Bike fiasco starts today...

...having already staked their claim on a parking spot outside the church, imagine my surprise when there were 20 ( twenty ) nbiked parked on the oavement  and totally blocking access to anyone on south paarde yesterday. A tweet into @ Limebike " we'll send our operatives to check " is pointless as they clearly dumped them there in the first place.I'll make it easy for you @LBhounslow - The geofencing / threat of geo fencing doesnt work and people will dump them wherever they want \#end

Tim Garfoot ● 1202d125 Comments

The parking bays don't seem to be near the main transport link - Chiswick or Kew Bridge Stations...

Simon Meyers ● 1202d

Ten minutes by Lime to my local train station and a ten minute walk to the nearest Lime dock, the nearest Lime dock to the station is two minutes away.  £2.90 to hire the bike for the journey.ORTwo minutes walk to the bus stop. £1.75 single fare and the bus stops outside the station.

N V Brooks ● 1202d

judging by the number of clacking bikes I hear, noone much seems to pay for them anyway

Davey Harris ● 1202d

"I'll make it easy for you @LBhounslow "But South Parade which you are complaining about is in L.B. Ealing.

Richard Jennings ● 1201d

Wondering what they are like, I hired one the other day for the first time. I got it from south parade and parked it at a completely empty dedicated cycle hire bay on coombe road. The app said sorry, you can't park here, I parked it front-facing pavement, sideways, in the middle, at each end and still, it said NO. Suggested the nearest place to park was down by Fullers Brewery. I see 2 parked on the pavement in glebe street the day before so tried that, Nope, can't park here mate. I eventually returned it to where i hired it from. What a load of B. But I still see them parked everywhere and in most cases not parked properly, whats that all about? Complained on the app and they calculated my journey from south parade to coombe road, said sorry, refunded the difference, and did nothing else in the way of why i can't park in a designated bay.

Julian Pavey ● 1200d

In the same way that electric car take up is largely determined by the perception of 'range anxiety' coupled to not enough charging points, unless electric bikes are convenient and easy to use/park then people won't use them. Parking in a designated bay and being told you can't park there is not a good start!

Chris Blackwell ● 1200d

Are the rules different for LBE Lime bikes and LBH Lime bikes?

Philippa Bond ● 1200d

Lime activated the bays on Friday before they were in operation and before they were marked on the App. They are working now. I think this is an interesting trial. I’m also slightly sceptical about compliance with the bays but I am more optimistic than Chris about take-up. If more people are cycling as a result of this then it is worth the annoyance of a few badly parked ones.

Paul Campbell ● 1200d

Paul: If more people are cycling as a result of this then it is worth the annoyance of a few badly parked ones.Of course the people who might be more than a little inconvenienced by badly parked bikes will be the disabled.  But in pursuit of the great god of cycling you are clearly willing to sacrifice the disabled.Lime must institute a system where if the bike is not properly parked in the bay the user gets charged £50-100 per offence (preferably escalating) so that there is a real financial penalty for Lime users being idiots

Justin Stephenson ● 1200d

There seem to be dozens of lime bikes now randomly dumped all over the Borough. Literally dumped’  i.e. left lying on their sides on pavements, in parks etc. Three of them I saw today had flat tyres so not sure if vandalised or what but certainly these dumped bikes make the Borough look more unattractive by the day.

Steve Taylor ● 1200d

Item 178,655 in the archives of Chiswick residents attempting to pit cycling against disabled people. Pathetic and so boring. This idea of fines though I like it. Can we have a similar one for cars? Likewise policed by geo-fencing and concerned citizens reporting via an app to ensure proper and comprehensive enforcement. After all a Wankpanzer parked across a dropped kerb on a side street on Chiswick High Road is a much more concerning obstacle for disabled people I am sure you will agree ....

Paul Campbell ● 1200d

Illegal parking will likely as not generate a fine, they even have wardens on foot issuing them. Of course we could always ramp up the dystopia, and have citizen wardens report badly parked cars via an app, but then again, perhaps that’s already here, and called “Next Door”

Russell Pearson ● 1200d

“Illegal parking will likely as not generate a fine”If that is the case then enthusiastic supporters of geofencing to automatically issue escalating fines to rule-breaking cyclists should have no objection to geofencing cars and doing the same to drivers. Especially disability rights advocates.

Paul Campbell ● 1200d

I'm a cyclist, but I'm deeply unconvinced by Lime Bikes. As some said, it looks like they're extremely easy to be ridden without paying. I was waiting at the lights in Brentford, the other day, and I saw a young lad approach one, override the lock and ride off faster than it's taken me to work out the app once (and faster than the lights turned green, I must say).And, indeed, they're bumped all over the place. I found one lying sideways in Richmond Park, on the street, being sniffed at by the deer. I moved it upwards and onto the grass, so that it wouldn't be hit by others, but it beeped angrily at me.

Francis Sheehan ● 1200d

Yawn. What utter nonsense again. Take a few deep breaths and calm yourself down.As others have pointed out there are sanctions already in place for illegal parking and they are rigorously enforced. A motor vehicle (because even a one-eyed muppet will notice a lot of parking offences are not perpetrated by car drivers) is easily identifiable.A friend of mine is disabled and a long-term advocate of travel equality in London. Her experience is that the authorities are not interested in accessibility rights or ensuring that the footpath and highway environments are fit for purpose. All the money and attention goes to the ‘persecuted’ minority calling themselves cyclists.One day you might find yourself in a position where you aren’t particularly able and cycling is no longer an option. Then what will you do?

Simon Hayes ● 1200d

Francis, when a local group of malcontents with a three-year track record of inciting hatred against cyclists and celebrating criminal behaviour sets up a sub-group encouraging those same people to record photos of badly parked Lime bikes what do you think is likely to happen?

Paul Campbell ● 1200d

PC > "Can we have a similar one for cars?"No. And here's why...Motornomativity: How Social Norms Hide a Major Public Health Hazardhttps://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2023/01/the-blind-spot-that-stops-us-seeing-the-dangers-of-motoring.phpA couple of examples:The results showed that people could go from agreeing with an idea to disagreeing with it simply based on whether it was framed as a driving issue or not. For example, 75% of the UK public agreed ‘People shouldn’t smoke in highly populated areas where other people have to breathe in the cigarette fumes’ but only 17% agreed when two words were changed so that the statement was ‘People shouldn’t drive in highly populated areas where other people have to breathe in the car fumes’.“We saw something similar when it came to theft. If you leave your ‘belongings’ in the street and they get stolen, only 37% of people think the police should do something about it. But if you leave your ‘car’ in the street and it gets stolen then 87% of people think the police should take action – even though the car is really just one of your belongings.A fascinating study.

John Whitworth ● 1200d

twelf year old boys from Chiswicck School (!) were dumping those bikes onto the road and everywhere in Grove Park yesterday. Relly poor!And shame on Chiswick School.

Cris Bur ● 1200d

Preach John. The local Lime Bike outrage is another prime example of motonormativity at work.Love Professor Walker's work.Here is another excellent study of his on drivers overtaking cyclists. Velophobes with an authoritarian disposition really dislike the findings:https://drianwalker.com/overtaking/

Paul Campbell ● 1200d

"After all a Wankpanzer parked across a dropped kerb on a side street on Chiswick High Road is a much more concerning obstacle for disabled people I am sure you will agree ...."I understand that disabled people also have concerns about walking past a wall with a large egg-shaped person sitting on top of it, in case he has a great fall.....

Richard Greenhough ● 1200d

John if a car is taken, it's usually to do a robbery and police should be notified.

Janice Evans ● 1200d

If these bikes are so easy to steal and dump all over the place, I can’t see it as a viable business proposition. Just more ‘litter’ strewn across the Borough blocking pavements etc.  Teenagers paradise??

Steve Taylor ● 1200d

It takes 2 secs to find the hack online and 5 secs to implement it!Guess it was far too much for LBH to say "Hey Lime fix the hack before we think about starting the trial"

Nick Jenkins ● 1199d

I challenge Cllrs. Lambert and Dunne to get out and about and count the sheer number of dumped Lime bikes. I drove from my podiatrist in Isleworth this morning and by the time that I had reached the borough boundary at Boston Manor I had passed seven in a little over two miles. Time for both councillors to earn their £33,000+ annual allowances and actually insist that Lime deliver a viable scheme for the benefit of those they are handsomely paid to represent.

N V Brooks ● 1199d

Talking of obstructing the pavement I am still amazed that Hounslow allowed that Monolith to be bunged IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAVEMENT opposite the green near The Packhorse and Talbot.

Chris Blackwell ● 1199d

Probably a good idea to move these dumped lime bikes from pavements and put them on all the unused cycle lanes where they aren’t in the way of anyone. 

Steve Taylor ● 1199d

I have to say that I did not see a single user on the bike lane outside my podiatrist's on South Street this morning. This was supposed rush hour with children on their way to school. Loads of pedestrians and only one cyclist who was using the road!

N V Brooks ● 1199d

700 further bikes to be abandoned across Hounslow. Who on earth agreed to this deal.

Chris Dakers ● 1199d

Looks like it's working well to me. On the best recently traffic calmed street in Chiswick of course. 

Paul Campbell ● 1199d

I'm out plenty, usually on a bike, and I take a couple of hours each week telling people what I've been up to (on BrentfordTW8 and Brentford Councillors FaceBook. In fact people think it's more taxing than I find it, but here I am this evening monitoring the generally hostile social media to see if there's anything needs doing.Lime bikes have been around - mainly in Chiswick and Brentford, they are rare beyond Isleworth - in Hounslow and in the couple of years they have been around I have had two concerns directed directly at me via email or text. I deal with them when I get them. Some boroughs in the centre of London have had a more serious problem - especially Westminster, Camden,  City, Islington etc where there is more use and more narrow pavements.However the point of rent bikes is that they should be convenient for users to find them, and balance that convenience with the need to keep streets and particularly pavements clear of abuse.Thus far, Hounslow has had no arrangement with any provider though we have not tried to 'ban' them, because for many people this is viewed as a useful service.There is an agreement across London that we will introduce controls on how they are used, which means they can only be left in specific places. In Hounslow these places were only defined less than a week ago and I have no doubt it will take a while to iron out teething problems. In the meantime if you see one you think is abandoned, doctored or left in an inconvenient place, report it on FixMyStreet https://fms.hounslowhighways.org/ - there is already a 'box' under "traffic parking/signals" (not intuitive, working for more clarity) for "abandoned vehicle".I have asked to change that or add something which is more clearly for rental bikes - we used to have one for Santander but they were extremely rare in this borough.As far as I'm concerned - and this is Katherine's portfolio primarily - our job is to find and implement a solution which provides a service people want, without undue problems for anybody else. That's what we're doing.

Guy Lambert ● 1199d

Remove head from bottom, leave Grove Park and ride around the borough to see a broader reality.

N V Brooks ● 1199d

So Guy you imply then that this is inaccurate "Hounslow Council earlier announced that the new arrangement in which electronic bikes must be parked in designated bays would launch on Monday 5 June but users of the service report that the geofencing has been activated already.Previously, anyone hiring the bikes through an app would just be encouraged to park them responsibly, but the new system means that the machines must be left in one of 56 designated e-bike bays across Chiswick". Two days into the scheme and from the number of dumped bikes, the supposed geo-fencing is evidently not working or working as well it seems as those championing the scheme.

N V Brooks ● 1199d

Our Son rented a Lime bike on Monday but was unable to park it in one of the designated bays because the app wouldn't let him. He had to park it elsewhere and was consequently late for his shift at the pub. Brilliant.

Chris Blackwell ● 1199d

Like I said, there are likely to be teething pains.

Guy Lambert ● 1199d

I have anther podiatry appointment in six weeks. Another count beckons in mid-July. Until such time the old maxim of the "Six P" principal rings evidently true. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

N V Brooks ● 1199d

"Lime bikes have been around - mainly in Chiswick and Brentford, they are rare beyond Isleworth.."There were a couple dumped outside Isleworth Station this morning, and I saw another dumped in an alley with its back wheel missing.

Richard Greenhough ● 1199d

The security system is so ridiculously easy to bypass that you could do it in less time it's taken me to type this.5 seconds of (hardly any)  brute force and a clicking Lime bike is yours to dump wherever you like.

N V Brooks ● 1199d

Maybe, and it's dead easy to report to Hounslow Highways via FixMySTreet  via here https://fms.hounslowhighways.org/ here or via the app. That will get someone to do about it!

Guy Lambert ● 1199d

Perhaps everyone should bombard Cllrs Lambert and Dunne with emails reporting these dumped bikes instead?

Paul Fisher ● 1199d

Guy, given that there were seven dumped Lime bikes between South Street Isleworth and Boston Manor station on my short-ish journey yesterday I could have spent half the morning on Fix my street. Far better surely to get Lime to improve their security and geofencing although the latter is, I understand disabled if the bike security is compromised

N V Brooks ● 1199d

I doubt they were 'dumped'. The old model with Lime was leave them where you want to, providing it doesn't interfere with circulation of pedestrians or vehicles. It has actually worked very well as is shown by the fact that I have not had hundreds of reports (I can remember only one report, but there might have been 2 over maybe 3 years).Of course if you think every bike is a scourge as many do on social media you'll have a different view, but whenever I go to Chiswick or Hammersmith I see many being used - and the vast majority are paying the fees as they are going at an electric bike pace and no 'clicking'.There are often a couple 'parked' outside where I live in a place where there is no interference with anyone. The change in system will mean (on the occasion once a year when I want to use one) I will have to walk a couple of hundred metres to pick one up which is a bit of a downgrade of the service to users, but will help with those who don't like them on the road at all.

Guy Lambert ● 1199d

On the traffic island on GWR outside GSK, Two on their side by the BMR entrance to Blondin Park and in the bile lans just south of Boston Manor station to me is dumped. Nice try Guy.They are a great idea if used as intended. Perhaps someone at LBH coyld actually manage the relationship or are LBH going to abrogate their responsibility to residents with suggestions that they report DUMPED bikes to FixMyStreet.

N V Brooks ● 1199d

Why and were Lime chosen - any audit trails in place?

Russell Pearson ● 1198d

OK I went and had a look. None outside GSK except one on the 'roundabout bit' by GSK. This had a bloke on it. He said he was taking a short break and would carry on. Very happy with Lime.There is one by the Blondin Park, nearly fully charged and I presume ready to go. £ in Boston Gardens down near the park. All good and ready to go.One on the other side near the University - didn't check that one.5 in Church Walk (the only 'official' place I checked) 4 in the 'box, one out of it. The one out and one of those in were on their side with a symbol on it's read out I didn't understand: either flat battery or something more sinister. Another on its side with a good battery (I picked it up). 2 already up with a good battery - one of these I couldn't check because someone got on it and cycled away. I saw one riding down the BMR cycle lane, 2 going down Boston Manor or Half acre, one coming up and turning into Windmill with a teenager riding it. None of the ones I saw were 'clicking' and my understand it if they are messed with they have no electric power so most of us couldn't ride them. There were a few in Brentford out of the pens but sensibly parked. I will be writing to the traffic team updating them on what I found and asking for info on the things I don't understand.

Guy Lambert ● 1198d

Can you ask them why they chose Lime please? As against other cheaper and potentially greener options.https://biketips.com/humanforest-tier-lime-electric-bike-london/

Russell Pearson ● 1198d

Just for clarity, not a single one I looked at was 'dumped' except maybe the two with a funny symbol - though I think that just means flat battery.And Maggie, yes I've seen a few badly 'parked' but every one I saw today was fine (except the ones that had fallen over, or perhaps pushed over) and as I said earlier, I have had only one or maybe 2 complaints actually made to me. I have seen hundreds on social media, usually saying 'dumped'. I have yet to see one.

Guy Lambert ● 1198d

And how expensive electric bikes with all the questions around how the batteries are sourced and made, fits in with the promoted ‘active travel’ model that you get from old fashioned pedal power such as Santander bikes. Why are these not being provided in Hounslow?

Russell Pearson ● 1198d

Thank you for making the effort. There was a white Mercedes van with a Lime logo cruising around Boston Manor at around 15:00 being shadowed by a Dott bike collection van. You are right that jailbreaking the bikes disables the power but, given that most clicky Lime bikes are ridden by young, presumably fit, 'yoofs' I guess that the absence of power isn't an issue.

N V Brooks ● 1198d

Looks like the trial is going rather swimmingly to me. But velophobes gonna velophobe. 

Paul Campbell ● 1198d

Saw two abandoned on Dock Road this evening, middle of road, on my evening walk.

Chris Dakers ● 1198d

It takes a certain type of velophil1e to consistently be such a divisive buffoon.  As I said, perhaps you need to leave Grove Park once in a while

N V Brooks ● 1198d

What you mean to take a photo of perfectly observed compliance on just Day 4 of the trial at the new bay near Chiswick Townhall? Certainly. And I will be happy to keep obliging with similar photos as being on my bike every day I get more opportunity to see what is happening in Chiswick than people who live in Ealing and leave their house every six weeks to go to a podiatrist in Isleworth.

Paul Campbell ● 1198d

You are a real plum! In Ealing we have had various hire bikes left in stupid and sometimes dangerous places. Just because the donut Khan thinks they are the answer to our future car free world doesn't make up for the stupidity of some of the clowns who hire them. There's a downhill pavement stretch alongside the A40 where you take your life in your hands with the two wheel bullies thundering past in a ''not going to stop manner''. Witness one night as I walked home to see a Lime bike left in the middle of the pavement to effectively make them finally slow down.

Peter King ● 1198d

What an odious, small minded little man you are. It must be dreadful to be so socially inept. I actually leave my house every day, which is why I see what is going on in a wider context than crowing about a few correctly parked bikes. Most people would recognize that the problem of dumped hire bikes has been ongoing for months. If I actually typed what I wanted to say about you Mr Campbell I would be banned from this forum.  Now back under the bridge you silly little troll the Billy Goats are coming

N V Brooks ● 1198d

Ealing doesn't have geofenced parking bays for the road for hire bikes! Spot the difference. You can see it in the photos I've posted on this thread and the many more I will be posting in the coming weeks to show what happens when a Council does something different and quite bold.

Paul Campbell ● 1198d

"I have anther podiatry appointment in six weeks. Another count beckons in mid-July."We'll all be on tenterhooks for your next count in mid-July 😀

Paul Campbell ● 1198d

Good, I may delay the count by a day or two as I wouldn't want to deprive you of  maximising  the time that you need to actually compose a  post that displays something other than your normal 'considered' intelligent respise.

N V Brooks ● 1198d

“ Witness one night as I walked home to see a Lime bike left in the middle of the pavement to effectively make them finally slow down.”Best to dump them on the unused cycle lanes where they belong!

Steve Taylor ● 1198d

The insurance clerk is obsessed with NV Brooks.  What an unhappy little man he is. The mind worm has taken him over.

Steve Taylor ● 1198d

If only the little clerk was something useful like a podiatrist.

N V Brooks ● 1198d

Day 5 of the trial in Chiswick and all the bays I cycled past this morning all had 100% compliance. This is going very well and better than I expected.

Paul Campbell ● 1198d

Sadly I cannot say the same for the SUV drivers who are struggling with lines and reading this morning. 

Paul Campbell ● 1198d

Absolutely no excuse unless the drivers were displaying valid Blue Badges. If not,I hope they will be receiving PCNs.

N V Brooks ● 1198d

Don't think a blue badge would allow you to park on a double yellow. The only excuse for stopping on one would be if it was an emergency or you were directed to by the police.For the (probable) double yellow contravention I believe a PCN has to be attached to the vehicle. The rules changed some years ago, so except in limited circumstances they can't be issued solely on CCTV evidence.No idea about the disable bay (whether CCTV observation is sufficient)

Andrew Jones ● 1198d

Blue Badge holders can park on single or double yellow lines, where loading restrictions do not apply, for a maximum stay of 3 hours

Steve Taylor ● 1198d

From the regulations:"Badge holders may park on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, but in general not where there are restrictions on loading or unloading – indicated by yellow kerb dashes and / or signs on plates."

N V Brooks ● 1198d

Hey Paulreplying only now because the website ate my first attempt.Don't get me wrong, there's a lot about the anti-bike front that I find very hard to digest, but I think one can be pro-bike, a cyclist and being critical of some of the initiatives that are being put out in London.Lime bikes are, on paper, great ideas and I welcome them. Car sharing, bike sharing, both are brilliant ideas. But the tech for Lime isn't thought through, and it's showing. It doesn't with other suppliers, I think.

Francis Sheehan ● 1198d

No doubt some users of lime bikes follow the rules and park them considerately when they have finished using them, so you can take photos of them in the marked bays. The issue is with those riders who leave them in places where they cause an obstruction, which certainly seems to be the norm around the Victoria area, and is now a growing problem within the bounds of LB Hounslow.

Richard Greenhough ● 1198d

No blue badges in either Wankpanzer. Every time I go to Dev Rd there is at least one SUV without a blue badge parked in the disabled bays. It’s clearly time to geofence car parking. How could anybody who supports disabled rights disagree?

Paul Campbell ● 1197d

It is already geofenced for many disabled users. Two London boroughs no longer recognise Blue Badges effectively making them no-go areas for the mobility impaired.  In addition York, Durham, Oxford and Bristol already severely restrict Blue Badge access.That is geofencing or as the more enlightened would call it, discrimimation.I sincerely hope that both of those SUVs received PCNs.

N V Brooks ● 1197d

Of course they didn't. Antisocial drivers are constantly abusing the system and flouting the rules with very little enforcement while everybody has bought the sleight of hand and is looking at bikes and getting themselves worked up into a lather. Motonormativity. Once you see it you can't stop seeing it everywhere.

Paul Campbell ● 1197d

Rarely, I am in full concurrence. I am sick to the back teeth of the very limited provision made for disabled motorists and passengers being abused by the 'entitled'. Every Blue Badge holder has to reapply every three years. Abuse of Blue Badges is worse than parking without one. At least in the latter case they MAY get a PCN. Birmingham has swoop squads countering abuse and the badges are permanently withdrawn if found to be used fraudulently. I would love to see more enforcement locally. I get thoroughly 'miffed' by corner parkers who make the roads more dangerous for all users Don't limit it to anti-social drivers it's anti social road users who are the problem.

N V Brooks ● 1197d

So Guy Lambert sees a Lime bike on the floor and doesn't consider it dumped, his theory is its been pushed over.  Seems to me someone is in denial.

Maggie Dodge ● 1197d

You are.

Philippa Bond ● 1197d

That’s not a helpful reply.

Russell Pearson ● 1197d

Thanks for the clarification - I'd been reading the Highway Code which makes no mention of the fact that Blue Badge Holders can do this within its text. The highway code does at least mention the Blue Badge Scheme, and sure enough if you look at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england it details the 3 hour limit.

Andrew Jones ● 1197d

It’s somewhat disingenuous, if not a total waste of time, to take photos of four or five lime bikes parked correctly when the other 600 are scattered around randomly on pavements, in roads, in parks etc. etc etc littering the already litter strewn Borough. Fly-tippers  haven! 

Steve Taylor ● 1197d

Well in that case I will let you in on another secret. Both those illegally parked SUVs belong to traders on Devonshire Road.

Paul Campbell ● 1197d

Then simply, if that is 5he case, LBH need to issue PCNs.

N V Brooks ● 1197d

Perhaps the local Councillors covering that side of the street could be useful in helping to make that happen. They are Councillors Biddolph, Mushiso and Gill. I’ll be happy to let them know who the traders are.

Paul Campbell ● 1197d

Please do. Especially the one in the Disabled parking bay.  Grrrrr.

N V Brooks ● 1197d

I went past Elmwood Road on the way from Chiswick station to Chiswick Park station late this afternoon. There were six Lime bikes there, three in the bay, one around the corner on the pavement, one parked in the road itself and one lying prone on the pavement. I fear for any short sighted/elderly/young kids going that way in the dark. Selfish idiots who don't possess a brain cell the cause.

Peter King ● 1197d

I’ve asked the local Conservatives if they want to know who the drivers are. The ball is in their court. Let’s see how serious they are about protecting the rights of disabled people.

Paul Campbell ● 1197d

“ Selfish idiots who don't possess a brain cell the cause.”Selfish yes, but they do indeed possess brain cells; thats why they know they can act with impunity in Hounslow Borough because the Council is largely impotent.

Steve Taylor ● 1196d

Glass half empty or glass half full?

Philippa Bond ● 1196d

“ 600? Very precise.”Yes indeed……if you don’t understand satire! 

Steve Taylor ● 1196d

Which 'local Conservatives' did you ask Paul ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 1195d

“ Both those illegally parked SUVs belong to traders on Devonshire Road.”Good for them. Honest people trying to make a living where Hounslow Council effectively tries to stop them on all fronts. Or perhaps they are anarchists. Either way I applaud them.

Steve Taylor ● 1195d

Sorry, cannot accept a vehicle without a valid Blue Badge being parked in a clearly marked disabled parking bay.

N V Brooks ● 1195d

“Sorry, cannot accept a vehicle without a valid Blue Badge being parked in a clearly marked disabled parking bay.”Were they actually parked in ‘disabled’ bays or just on yellow lines?

Steve Taylor ● 1195d

Post at 12.06 on 09.06.23 very clearly shows a Range Rover in a designated Disabled bay. If, as posted, it was not displaying a valid Blue Badge then it should receive a PCN

N V Brooks ● 1195d

“ The post at 12.06 on 09.06.23 very clearly shows a Range Rover in a designated Disabled bay.”Yes,  second photo does indeed show a range rover in a disabled bay. I didn’t see that photo initially as I only looked at the first photo which seemed to show a dark grey suv parked on double yellow’s near a corner. I couldn’t see if that was a disabled bay or not. If you say it was in a disabled bay I will believe you, thanks.

Steve Taylor ● 1194d

It's not me "saying" anything. RangeRover clearly pictured in designated disabled bay. Beyond dispute surely.

N V Brooks ● 1194d

“ RangeRover clearly pictured in designated disabled bay. Beyond dispute surely.”No, you misunderstand me. As I said, I originally only looked at the first photo of a dark grey SUV with registration starting RA18.  That photo didn’t show clearly that the vehicle was in a disabled bay. To me it looked like it was on a double yellow. Hence I said that if ‘you say’ it was in a disabled bay, I will believe you. The second photo, which  only looked at today, clearly shows that the light grey SUV is clearly parked in a disabled bay so obviously I don’t dispute that. If you opine that both vehicles were in disabled bays, I fully accept that it is quite appalling and the vehicle owners should be prosecuted. If in fact only one vehicle was in a disabled bay, Campbell was lying!

Steve Taylor ● 1194d

Did Paul Campbell actually say that BOTH vehicles that were parked illegally were parked in disabled bays? Time and date of post Steve otherwise I (and others reading this thread I don't doubt) will just think you made a mistake, didn't spot the second photo initially, and put your foot in it, and aren't willing to admit it, and you are now trying to deflect attention away from a mistake you made.

Andrew Jones ● 1194d

Can you please reference the post where it is claimed that both vehicles were in disabled bays as I cannot wee it?

N V Brooks ● 1194d

“ and others reading this thread I don't doubt) will just think you made a mistake, didn't spot the second photo initially”Yes you are quite right. My mistake. He actually said that every time he goes to Devonshire Road he sees at least one vehicle parked in a disabled bay. He also claims to know who the guilty traders are. Am surprised he hasn’t ever politely asked them to move their vehicle if it happens so frequently. Also you can phone the Council and give them the registration numbers and they dispatch an offer to issue a PCN. I have used the service a number of times and they are very efficient.

Steve Taylor ● 1194d

Reported on Hounslow website / fixmystreet as advised by Guy Lambert and received following from the Council“ State changed to: not the council's responsibility”Any suggestions or are these bikes just supposed to block pavements indefinitely ?

Steve Taylor ● 1190d

Mmmm. So it seems Hounslow Council now absolves itself of all responsibility to clear the dumped lime bikes and ensure our paths, pavements and parks are safe for pedestrians, mobility vehicles and general traffic.

Steve Taylor ● 1189d

the click clacking night n day if not then a bing bong- the kids just flick em on the floor if they can't nick em. The Lithium bikes are dumped everywhere. When you do your research on these bike in NYC & Paris woooah.As for the e scooters Paris residents did not tolerate them Parisians have voted to rid the streets of the French capital of rental electric scooters, with an overwhelming 90% of votes cast supporting a ban, official results show. Amid a rise in fires and deaths, New York City enacts new e-bike rules. At least 19 people died nationwide in 2022 due to these devices. The new laws will ban the sale of uncertified bikes and unregulated lithium-ion batteries. The story has become a sadly familiar one in New York.Then when you start digging on LITHIUM batteries & where they come from- oh dear.

Arnie Devi ● 1188d

good point

Arnie Devi ● 1188d

I suspect that the arrangement is that Hounslow Highways notify Lime of any dumped bikes, and it's then Lime's responsibility to recover them, and to repair them if damaged.

Richard Jennings ● 1188d

I would hope that would be the procedure, Richard, but the email I received from Hounslow Highway’s simply stated “status closed not Hounslow Highways responsibility”. I would have thought they would at least have advised me if they passed it on to Lime or provided me with contact details for Lime so that such dumping can be reported.  The streets, pavements and parks are, after all, the responsibility of Hounslow Highway’s I would assume. Maybe not?

Steve Taylor ● 1188d

For once I agree with you Steve. It is linked in the way FixMySTreet (a third party app) works but as far as I'm concerned it's unacceptable to say that and as far as we are concerned it is certainly Hounslow Highways' responsibility to get it fixed, either by removing themselves or getting the provider to do so.

Guy Lambert ● 1188d

You are right Steve. What happens is that when you report it, HH notifies Lime that it needs to tell Lime to pick it up If they don't HH will take it away and either they destroy it or Lime pays to get it back. What is going wrong is that HH SHOULD be telling you that this is what is happening. And HH are aware that this is not happening. I have complained about this but it seems that despite memos going around that this is what should happen, it doesn't. I will tell them it is still happening. In the meantime there are just too many Lime bikes to report because they are hacked and I believe that officers meet weekly to push Lime to upgrade their hard/software to stop the bikes being hacked.

Iris Hill ● 1188d

Thinking about it, it could also be new staff at the call centre not being trained properly

Iris Hill ● 1188d

Just take pictures and tweet then to lime,uber,LBH,LBE and whoever.Tweet and retweet and include all Cllrs and the 2 MPs and the 2 leaders.Someone will take note at some point

Julian Pavey ● 1187d

Thanks Guy

Steve Taylor ● 1187d

Thanks very much Iris. Now I understand.

Steve Taylor ● 1187d

The new bike scheme will be discussed at the Chiswick Area Forum tonight (Tuesday 30th). Have your say at Chiswick Town Hall and possibly even have your questions answered.

Sam Hearn ● 1187d

I think you mean Tuesday 20th, not 30th.

Richard Greenhough ● 1187d

This week I have cycled along Promenade Approach Road (off Endsor Rd) three times on my home from the pool.First time there was a Lime standing slap bang in the middle of the Approach. Yesterday it was joined by another lying on its side.Today a third has appeared along with a Dot. The first Lime having been tagged with red spray paint.I will be back there on Monday. Could there be six or seven by then? Exciting isn't it!

Adrian Irving ● 1184d

http://www.brentfordtw8.com/default.asp?section=community&spage=common/hounscycling002.htmTime for the councillors managing this debacle to earn their corn.

N V Brooks ● 1183d

Anyone think Hounslow will listen to anything that goes against bikes, be they Lime bikes or any other.  They worship the bike, won't hear anything negative ever.

Maggie Dodge ● 1183d

Bloomin' Lime Bikes parked on pavements blocking dropped kerbs and causing an obstruction to the elderly and disabled. 

Paul Campbell ● 1171d

Mmm. The car is definitely illegally parked but it is not really hampering pedestrians or disabled people as there is still plenty of space on the dropped curb. I wonder if Humpty reported it to the Council so that a penalty could be issued or if he is just your typical pathetic curtain twitcher who loves to whinge but does nothing about it. The Lime Bike issue does seem to be getting worse. I did a lot of driving today and counted 16 or 17 dumped lime bikes scattered across pavements although 6 of them were in Richmond Borough. I have given up reporting now but I did my civic duty and dragged three of them off the pavement onto the cycle lane which is a more appropriate place for them to be dumped where they are not in anyone’s way.

Steve Taylor ● 1171d

When my sisters car was stolen it was used to do a long journey then itwas left illegally parked so it was traced quickly, a considerate thief ?

Janice Evans ● 1171d

Ah yes Janice, you're probably too young to remember butit's not like the good old days when some bounder purloined one's automobile.Then it was only good form to  compensate the owner by topping up the fuel tank with motor spirit, give the old girl a light clean and send an apologetic note to Scotland Yard informing them of the said conveyance's location.

Adrian Irving ● 1171d

Yes it seems to be the MO for car thieves to purposely park stolen cars illegally when they are finished with them. They seem to thrive on the fact that dumping the cars illegally will inconvenience decent people. Likewise the Lime Bike criminals seem to enjoy dumping the bikes across pavements. Small things amuse small minds or perhaps it’s just the small penis syndrome?  I wonder what Humpty thinks! ………Actually I don’t wanna know. Perish the thought.

Steve Taylor ● 1171d

I take your point Steve but in a way I have to say I can't blame kids using Limes having overridden (pun intended) the hopeless security.If Like are all dumb they can't secure the locks properly then they are fair game. Luckily I had my own bikes when I was growing up but if I hadn't would I be tempted to go for a "clicky" ride? You bet.

Adrian Irving ● 1171d

IF LIME ARE SO DUMB ......

Adrian Irving ● 1171d

And you wonder why some cyclists choose to use the road rather than the cycle lane?

Andrew Jones ● 1171d

"And you wonder why some cyclists choose to use the road rather than the cycle lane?"No I don't.

Steve Taylor ● 1170d

Ah you must know it’s because some idiots dump bikes on pavements and then other idiots come along and dump those same bikes in bike lanes.

Andrew Jones ● 1170d

Nope, they don't use the cycle lanes because they are dangerous and they prefer to ride on pavements or ride on the roads where they can speed and weave between cars.

Steve Taylor ● 1169d