Dozens of electric Lime bikes have been left abandoned along a 200-metre stretch of road just south of Chiswick Bridge, where the motors stop working as riders cross between Richmond and Hounslow. The situation arises from fractured regulation: Richmond has licensed Lime, while Hounslow has banned it and licensed Forest and Voi. Riders are forced to dismount and abandon bikes at the boundary, creating what comedian Dara Ó Briain described on X as “Checkpoint Charlie”.
Thomas Letch, a Richmond worker, said he needs two subscriptions to cycle hire companies to commute. “It’s a sort of turf wars with ebikes,” he said, recounting how the first time he crossed the bridge, the electricity cut out, leaving him with a heavy bike to pedal. Max Spiers, a student, noted abandoned bikes appeared immediately after Hounslow’s decision and called for consistent rules: “If they’re banning it in Hounslow they might as well ban it everywhere.”
Hounslow council defended its decision to contract only Forest and Voi, citing complaints about parking. A council spokesperson acknowledged the borough-by-borough approach can confuse users and said they are working with Transport for London for a pan-London solution. Richmond council’s transport chair, Alexander Ehmann, criticised Hounslow, saying the move “seems to have underestimated the impact on riders to and from neighbouring boroughs”.
Residents are frustrated by the clutter. Cynthia Brace, a retiree, called the bikes “a nuisance and an eyesore” and said they block pavements. Lime, which lost its Hounslow contract in early May, said it is deploying more teams to redistribute bikes near the bridge and hopes for a resolution. A Lime spokesperson added that the company connects local residents with the rest of the city and neighbouring Richmond.
