Forum Topic

Lime Bikes Banned in Hounslow — Should Ealing Do the Same?

This is my first post on this forum, so please be nice and on topic.I've read a lot of posts about many local issues and feel that now is the time to put my toe in the water, so to speak.Just saw the news that Hounslow Council has banned Lime bikes from operating in their borough, mainly due to problems with dumped bikes blocking pavements and creating hazards.Whatever your view on bikes, it’s hard to deny that these hire schemes haven’t been well managed. In parts of Ealing, they’re often left sprawled across pavements, outside shops, or across driveways — which clearly isn’t fair on pedestrians, pushchair users, or those with limited mobility.But they’re also promoted as a “green” transport option, and some people do rely on them to get to work or the station.Given what’s just happened in Hounslow, should Ealing consider doing the same — or is there a better way to deal with the problems without an outright ban?I’m genuinely curious what Ealing people think — I'm not looking for the usual “Cars vs Bikes” or political debate. I'm curious: are these bikes helping or harming our local streets, and what would a sensible approach look like here in Ealing?

Richard Price ● 5d7 Comments

That should have read "bikes for hire are not dumped on the street" Apologies.q

N V Brooks ● 4d

>The vast majority of Lime bikes appear to ridden by cyclists in their teensI see the opposite when I'm out and about, vast vast majority of lime bikes are ridden by adults.

Paul James ● 4d

Those of us who have lived and works in the Netherlands will know that it is only a tiny area of Amsterdam that is effectively car free. It is not some utopia of cycling freedom but had the advantage of planned cycle routes rather than the poorly designed and fragmented mishmash that both drivers and cyclists have to endure in London. By the way in Amsterdam bikes for hire are not dumped and are certainly not free and bike theft is a massive problem. Rental bikes however are however routinely dumped into the canals and have to be regularly dredged out.

N V Brooks ● 4d

It's too early to say.  Hounslow is replacing Lime Bikes with two other companies' dockless bikes Forest and Voi.  Let's hear (and see) the results of their change as it will also depend on how this differs.Success can depend on the accessibility and number of bikes.  People often need to travel between boroughs so a difference between boroughs can be a problem.It is a great shame that there has been a gap in which cycling proficiency has not been offered at schools.  It is good that it is back. Councils all have websites and cycling features on them.  They offer cycling information and courses for adults and children together with cycling maintenance and more.  Take advantage of it.It's interesting that the docking Santander bikes have a lower age restriction than Lime Bikes.  They are free on Sundays in August and you can learn more about them and where the docking stations are (some staffed) on the website. A chance to try them out on a quieter day of the week.  You can also see that they appear to change the docking station positions for various reasons.

Philippa Bond ● 4d

Simon Hayes hits the spot there.The utopia is a car free London.Just do it and let’s see how we go.Take the Amsterdam approach and leave bikes EVERYWHERE and make them freeSee any flaws? Nah….. we’ll be just like Amsterdam!!!!However I do think Lime and Boris bikes etc are not a bad idea.Unfortunately the standard of respect and behaviour in this country means they’ll be abused which is a shame

Colin Goodman ● 4d

The vast majority of Lime bikes appear to ridden by cyclists in their teens, with only a few ridden by older people. With the glorious weather we are having will there be a drop off when the weather gets bad?

Peter Tolhust ● 5d

The Lime scheme is fundamentally flawed. The bikes are easy to hack (despite claims by the operator that it had rectified this issue). Many of the abandoned bikes were the hacked ones, although it’s doubtful if the geofencing really works anyway.Putting in parking bays has also been pointless. Most users seemed to want to get from point A to B without detour to a bet some distance away. The usual principle of least effort. Meanwhile those unlucky enough to have a bet outside their home are subjected to the clattering and banging of bikes being loaded and unloaded in the small hours to be redistributed around the area.It’s also expensive to use, as many have pointed out. And being healthy is debatable. Electric motors taking the effort out kind of defeats the object of active travel.

Simon Hayes ● 5d