As Canadian municipalities grapple with e‑bike clutter on sidewalks, Lime announced it will withdraw its bikes from the London borough of Bromley after a blind man described a frightening experience.
Local incident sparks wider debate
A blind man has told of the "very frightening experience" of having to walk into busy London roads to get around Lime bikes on the pavement.
Jason Beal, 53, stressed that his Labrador Retriever guide dog Caine baulks at leading him into the road in south east London.
So, unable to see traffic as it goes by, he has to listen out and "very nervously" take Caine into the carriageway with him.
Jessica Beal, also blind, raised the dangers they were facing with their local MP Liam Conlon.
He took up the matter with Bromley Council and Lime, which has now apologised to the Beals and changed its app to stop the hiring of its bikes in the borough.
The couple's plight is likely to fuel the debate over e‑bikes in London.
Cities across Canada, including Toronto and Vancouver, have similarly been pressed by disability advocates to ensure e‑bike parking does not impede safe travel for blind pedestrians.
Canadian regulators are reviewing guidelines to balance the popularity of dock‑less bikes with accessibility standards.
MP Liam Conlon reacts
MP Liam Conlon told of his "real anger" over the ordeal faced by the Beals.
"We cannot allow new barriers to be created for disabled residents who already face challenges getting around," he said.
He added: "I'm delighted that Lime have announced they are withdrawing their bikes from Penge, and would like to thank them for their cooperation, and for their apology."
It is understood that the Lime app allowed bikes to be hired in the Penge area last week but by Monday morning this was no longer possible.
In a letter to Mr Conlon, Lime stressed the benefits of the e‑bikes but also that it is "critical" that their use "works for both riders and the communities in which they operate".
"We would therefore like to apologise to Jessica and Jason for the issues they have faced due to rider parking in Penge," the company said.
"To address the specific issue in Penge…we have made a change to the Lime app to prevent Lime bikes from being used beyond the Lewisham boundary until we can agree an approach that supports the roll‑out of an effective local scheme, with appropriate parking locations."
Councillor Simon Fawthrop, Bromley council's executive councillor for transport and highways, said, "We have already raised concerns with Lime that they appear to be operating without our consent in part of our borough, with their map allowing hiring use in Penge in the last few weeks.
"We welcome it appears to have changed now. This remains a serious matter and needs to permanently stop and ultimately if it does not, we will take action to remove the Lime bikes and then charge Lime for these costs."
E‑bike operators have increased their promotion of parking areas as they faced growing criticism over them being left blocking pavements. Some boroughs, including Westminster, have launched crackdowns on e‑bikes given the scale of the problems they are causing.