Brent Council leader 'hears from Lime' after threat to remove e-bikes

On September 2, the council said that Lime must remove its dockless bikes in the borough by October 31 if it continues to ignore the council’s safety concerns regarding poorly parked and abandoned bikes.

At the time councillor Muhammed Butt, the leader of the council, said it had written a letter to Lime listing required changes.

Cllr Butt said he has received a response from the company today (September 11).

He said: “Over the next week myself, the cabinet and senior officers will meet to consider Lime’s response.

“We all want to see more cycling across Brent. However, there are still many issues that remain unresolved in Lime’s proposals."

A Lime bike in Kingsbury, left abandoned in a hedge at least three days apart (Image: Joseph Reaidi)

The leader added: “Since writing to Lime, it has been clear to me the status-quo can no longer continue.

"Sadly, I have been appalled by the photos and videos of poor riding and poor parking that many residents have sent in.

“Whatever comes next, it is clear Lime have a long road to travel if they are to recover the trust of our residents.”

There are currently 750 bikes within the borough since Lime partnered with Brent in 2019, but there have been a flurry of complaints regarding dockless bikes being scattered across pavements and roads.

Brent Council said there is an “increasing number” of reports made regarding issues with these rentals, and there is often a “slow response time” by Lime to remove them.

Lime bikes in Brent (Image: Joseph Reaidi)

Last week Lime was asked to make several changes before the deadline, including introducing dedicated parking bays and a no parking zone.

It was also asked to introduce dedicated local resources to ensure any reported bikes are dealt with swiftly and increased penalties for those parking in inconvenient spots.

The council suggested Lime should consider providing local training and employment opportunities and community engagement events – including a Brent Resident Forum where people can share their views.

A spokesperson for Lime previously said: "We are proud to have run a successful shared e-bike service in Brent for the last six years, with tens of thousands of local residents now using Lime to make essential journeys in the borough.

“We understand the critical importance of maintaining a safe service and avoiding pavement obstructions and are committed to working with the council to deliver the required improvements to extend our operations here.”