Lewisham agrees new dockless bike partnership with Lime

Lewisham Council has announced a new partnership with Lime to expand and improve the operation of dockless hire bikes around the borough.

As part of the partnership, dockless e-bikes operated by Lime will need to be parked in designated bays around the borough, helping to reduce issues caused by inconsiderate parking. Riders will not be able to end their journey without parking in a designated bay.

Lime have also committed to removing bikes parked obstructively or discarded within 12 hours once reported. In cases where bikes are causing an immediate obstruction or danger, they will be removed within two hours once reported.

Cllr Louise Krupski, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Action, said: “Dockless hire bike schemes are a great way to promote active travel, provided they are managed properly. By agreeing this new partnership with Lime, we can support people in Lewisham to make more journeys to expand on the existing provision and create more jobs and opportunities for our residents.

“This is about taking steps to ensure more genuinely affordable workspace is available to the entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses that are essential to our local economy so that our borough remains a place where entrepreneurialism and enterprise can thrive.”

Marcel Baettig, founder of arts charity, Bow Arts which provides affordable workspace to creatives across London, said: "Affordable workspace is incredibly important to artists, designers and makers, especially at the start of their careers when much of the work they do is research-based and they don’t earn an income. These grants will ensure creatives have the time and space to hone their skills so they can contribute to the community.” www.lewisham.gov.uk/businesssupport using hire bikes, as well as addressing existing issues with inconsiderate parking and discarded bikes.”

Manish Kharel, General Manager for Lime in London, said: “Demand for shared e-bikes in London is at a record high, and Lewisham is no exception. It’s really promising to see more residents choose greener, active transport options to connect around the borough and city. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Lewisham Council to launch this new service, including the introduction of designated parking bays. We have worked closely with them to identify suitable locations for these bays - clear of pedestrian walkways and based on Lime trip data to ensure they are in areas of high demand."

The new scheme will be rolled out in phases across the borough from September 2023, with designated bays installed in various locations. E-bikes that are parked obstructively can be reported directly to Lime by emailing support@li.me or by using the Love Clean Streets app.