Lime e-bike riders who dump cycles on pavements in central London could face fines of up to £10 under a new agreement between the rental company and Westminster Council. The deal aims to tackle the growing problem of dockless e-bikes blocking footpaths, a common sight across the capital.
New measures to tackle obstructive parking
Under the agreement, Lime will share real-time data on bike numbers and locations across Westminster's eight square miles. This information will help identify hotspots where extra parking spaces are needed and allow Lime to redistribute bikes before they become a nuisance.
Operational teams will be dispatched to problem areas based on live data and complaints from residents and businesses. Riders who repeatedly park outside designated spaces will face fines ranging from £2 to £10, with repeat offenders risking a ban from using Lime bikes.
Council leader welcomes partnership
Councillor Paul Swaddle, newly elected leader of Westminster Council, said: 'It is no secret that carelessly parked dockless bikes are a key concern for local people, and my administration has made tackling this issue an early priority. I am pleased Lime are working with us to manage this issue. Dockless bikes are now a major way of getting around the city, and we want people to have that choice. We need to match that with keeping pavements clear and ensuring parking bays are well managed.'
He added: 'Working more closely with Lime, I am hopeful we can build a much more accurate hour-by-hour intelligence picture of where bikes are and stop issues before they arise.'
Lime invests in parking and patrollers
Lime has pledged to invest in bike parking infrastructure in the borough and boost its on-street patroller team, which operates seven days a week. Jack McKenna, Lime's senior policy manager, said: 'We are delighted to be working with the new leadership of Westminster Council to further strengthen our partnership. We're continuing to invest in e-bike parking in the borough, and will be strengthening our on-street team of parking patrollers who work seven days a week tidying and removing excess bikes in busy locations.'
He added: 'As e-bike usage in Westminster continues to grow, working with Cllr Swaddle and his team on a collective approach on a localised, ward level will enable us to tackle hotspot areas, deliver parking bays and ensure that our service works for everyone in Westminster, whether they are a cyclist or not.'
E-bikes a lifeline during strikes
While dockless e-bikes have attracted criticism, they have also become a vital transport option during disruptions like Tube strikes. During the April walkouts, Lime recorded a 23% rise in trips. In Richmond, the borough faced backlash after switching to Lime's rival operator, Forest.
