Merton Council has threatened to seize rental e-bikes if crowds attending the Wimbledon Championships continue to flout parking rules. The council says a small number of Lime and Forest riders have ignored designated parking bays, causing obstructions on pavements and roads.
Parking rules and designated bays
All dockless e-bikes must be parked in designated bays, introduced last year to prevent blockages. The All England Lawn Tennis Club has set aside space in its car park as a drop-off and pick-up point, while temporary parking bays have been widened in Wimbledon Park and Village. Riders who repeatedly break parking rules risk being banned from Lime and Forest services.
Council warning and meeting
Councillor Stuart Neaverson, cabinet member for transport and cleaner streets, said: “Earlier today, I held a productive meeting with Lime and Forest in Wimbledon. We are committed to making a success of e-bikes in Merton, but we will not accept poorly parked bikes that harm our community. I welcome the commitment of both companies to work with us to manage these bays properly, including making changes to their apps to make the rules even clearer. We will be closely monitoring the situation over the coming days, and will seize bikes should serious safety issues emerge.”
Company responses
Forest said it has been working closely with Merton Council in recent months to prepare for the tournament and has deployed an operational team to the area. A Lime spokesperson added: “Planning for the tournament is always a key moment in the calendar for our teams. Each year we install dedicated, staffed parking bays on the Club’s grounds, and this year we’ve also worked with the Council to increase the number of temporary parking bays in areas of high demand such as tube and train stations in Wimbledon Village. We have also increased on-the-ground Lime staffing to keep vehicles parked neatly and safely throughout the day.”
Impact and monitoring
The Wimbledon Championships began on Monday, June 29. Merton Council has reminded both companies about their contractual obligation to clear full parking bays. The council will continue to monitor the situation and may seize bikes if serious safety issues arise.
