Greenwich Council could back a call to ban Lime bikes in the borough next week after two frustrated councillors spoke out against the company for not taking action against riders dumping their bikes on pavements.

Since summer 2023 the council has been due to sign an agreement with Lime that would mean users would have to park their bikes in specific bays – as happens in other boroughs.

But Labour councillors Clare Burke-McDonald and Aidan Smith say that Lime “appears to be unwilling” to support the bays, and have put forward a motion for next week’s full council meeting demanding action.

Lime insists that an agreement is on its way and it will pay for Greenwich to create parking bays.

Of the dockless bike operators active in London, Lime is the biggest and the only one operating in Greenwich, although mainly in the northwest of the borough.

Dumped Lime bikes near National Maritime Museum
Lime bikes are also dumped in the tourist centre of Greenwich. Image: The Greenwich Wire

Neither Transport for London nor the capital’s councils have the powers to regulate them, although a planned change to devolution laws aims to tackle this situation.

This means that councils and TfL have had to try to strike deals with the companies to create dedicated parking bays. Some have played hardball with operators, with Westminster seizing bikes and Brent threatening a complete ban, before reaching deals.

But Greenwich has largely been silent on the issue, despite dumped bikes clogging up pavements in the tourist area near the Cutty Sark and residential streets in areas like Charlton, which is on the boundary of Lime’s operating zone. Lime’s app tells riders that they cannot park west of Charlton Church Lane or south of Charlton Road, with the boundary passing through Old Dover Road and Blackheath Village. 

The motion from Burke-McDonald, who represents Charlton Hornfair – at the edge of the Lime zone – and Smith, who represents Greenwich West, covering the tourist area. It does not represent the view of the council’s leadership.

Dumped Lime bikes on pavements
Greenwich has so far not struck a deal with Lime on its bikes. Image: The Greenwich Wire

“We were encouraged by the proposal to implement a phased scheme to trial mandatory dockless cycle parking bays across the borough,” the two councillors say.

“However, we were dismayed to learn in August that the most prominent dockless cycle hire company, already present in the borough, now appears to be unwilling to support mandatory parking bays. 

“If we are to ensure the shift towards sustainable travel, we need to make sure that dockless cycle operators listen and take action against users that park obstructively on footpaths and engage in anti-social behaviour – an issue that is of particular concern for those residents with mobility issues and visual impairments.

“Dockless cycle hire companies must take responsibility for both their cycles and their riders – the status quo isn’t good enough.”

Bike-parking bay in Gunnersbury
Parking bays have been installed by Hounslow Council in west London. Image: The Greenwich Wire

The two councillors call for greater co-operation between the council and the companies, before adding: “We call upon the council to consider banning dockless cycle hire companies from the borough who have not signed a memorandum of understanding with the council to enforce the use of mandatory parking bays by summer 2025.”

Lime has disputed the councillors’ assertion that it does not want to support mandatory bays. It told The Greenwich Wire: “We are currently working with the council to finalise and agree a memorandum of understanding. This agreement will include the roll out of dedicated e-bike parking bays in Greenwich, supported with funding from Lime.”

Lewisham Council struck a deal with Lime in September 2023 to create mandatory parking bays, starting in the north of the borough where the bikes were already being used. 

However, progress has been slow, with locations for a second phase of bays – between Forest Hill and Blackheath – only now being worked on. Designs for the rest of the borough will follow later in the year, according to an answer given at its council meeting on Wednesday night.

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