Dozens of Lime e-bikes were photographed obstructing a central London pavement on Lime Street on Tuesday, September 15, prompting a local resident to report the issue and leading to a new 'no parking zone' designation in the area.
Benedict Simms, a 28-year-old insurance worker, captured the image shortly after 2pm, showing a dense cluster of the distinctive green bikes spread across the pavement. Simms estimated there were 'between 50 and 70' bikes stationed on the street, making it difficult for pedestrians to pass.
Resident describes 'super hectic corner'
Simms said people could "barely walk round" the mass of bicycles. He described the scene: "At the office there were four bikes in front of the doors, so I could barely get out, then I turned to the right and saw that. In the picture, that was maybe half of the bikes on the street."
He added that the situation was worse for delivery drivers: "There was a lorry driver who had to get out and move four bikes just to get out it – there's always delivery drivers parked up even though they're not meant to. It's just a super hectic corner of the street, in the morning you've got a million Lime bikes cycling to that spot trying to find a little parking space."
Simms noted the frustration of local residents: "You hear a lot of sighs if you stand around that little spot for five minutes. You hear the locals getting p***ed off."
Lime responds with parking investment
Following the incident, the Lime app now indicates that the area at the south of Lime Street has been designated a 'no parking zone', warning users that they may face a fine if they abandon their bikes there.
A Lime spokesperson acknowledged the issue: "Obstructive parking is an issue we take very seriously. Cycling in London is at record levels - with more than 1 in 10 trips now made on shared e-bikes. Designated parking for e-bikes has not kept up with this rapid growth in demand."
The spokesperson highlighted Lime's investment: "To help fix this we have invested more in parking than any other e-bike operator in London, helping fund more than 3,400 bays. But as several commenters in the Reddit thread have noted, more parking is still needed."
Commitment to expand parking capacity
Lime stated its intention to work with councils across the capital to address the shortfall. The spokesperson concluded: "We're committed to working with councils across London to expand parking capacity and ensure the network keeps pace with how people are travelling."
The incident highlights the growing challenge of e-bike parking as shared cycling becomes increasingly popular in the capital, with Lime reporting that more than 1 in 10 trips in London are now made on shared e-bikes.
