Lime withdraws bikes from London borough after complaints from blind residents

Lime has removed its electric bikes from a London borough after the company’s vehicles were accused of endangering blind residents.

The company said it had stopped users from being able to hire e-bikes in Bromley, south-east London, where it was operating without an agreement.

It came after Jason Beal, a local resident, said he had had to force his guide dog into a busy road because of the company’s lime green bikes being strewn over the pavement.

Local councillors had also threatened to pull Lime’s bikes off the streets and charge the company for the hassle.

Lime’s e-bikes have become ubiquitous in London and a popular way of getting around but the hundreds of them parked on pavements have been seen by critics as a nuisance.

The company had started offering e-bike hire in the Bromley suburb of Penge in recent weeks, despite not having local approval. Councillors said they had “blighted” local areas and caused hazards on pavements.

Simon Fawthrop, of Bromley council, said: “We have already raised concerns with Lime that they appear to be operating without our consent in part of our borough.

“Bromley council have long had misgivings about Lime Bikes and other similar bikes that are quite frankly blighting some areas, where they are strewn across pavements causing multiple hazards.

“The council has not agreed anything with Lime and we call upon them to remove their bikes from our borough forthwith.”

Mr Beal, 53, told the London Standard that bikes parked on the pavement meant he had to walk on the road and listen out for traffic, frightening Caine, his guide dog.

“There have been a number of times the Lime bikes have been parked up or propped up against the tree or left over the pavement,” he said.

“So I’ve got to make a decision to try to take him into the main road. That’s a very frightening experience for myself.”

Lime, recently valued at $1.7bn (£1.3bn) in a US flotation, started offering its bikes in Bromley in recent weeks.

It did this without approval from the council, meaning it did not have guidance about where the bikes should be parked.

The company operates bikes and scooters in more than a dozen London boroughs.

It has been blighted by claims of personal injuries caused by the bikes, and said recently that it had set aside $56m for personal injury claims.

Lime was contacted for comment. The company told The Standard it had apologised to Mr Beal and that it had suspended bike hiring in the borough until it can agree an approach “with appropriate parking locations”.