Electric bikes that riders can hire and park at their convenience are an increasingly common sight on UK roads – with an estimated 30,000 Lime bikes available in London alone.
But their growing prevalence brings growing challenges for people with mobility issues.
For other people without disabilities, finding a sidewalk blocked through electronic bicycles without a dock can be annoying and antistics. For blind users and wheelchairs, this can be much more serious.
The author of blind content, Lucy Edwards, has published about the voltage of electronic bicycles incorrectly parked with her consulting dog, Miss Molly.
There are so many “walks on the roads,” he says, that he cannot happen without help. The delight left her scared and upset.
“I don’t know where I am, of course,” he said. “If I don’t have me, I don’t know how to go. “
Electronic bicycle users are not required to establish internal designated bays. In some parts of the United Kingdom, electrical corporations such as Lima and VOI use a “free flow method”, which means that passengers can park anywhere, provided that motorcycles do not obstruct pavements.
However, some critics argue that users are abusing these guidelines and abandoning vehicles in precarious places.
Lucy published an Instagram video to more than 200,000 subscribers, appearing genuine, how your consulting dog stops the assembly with electric motorcycles on your way.
The video that her consultant dog stops and brings her back to the sidewalk.
“It’s so bad,” Lucy said in the clip. “She takes me back to the sidewalk. It’s so bad, look at all bicycles. “
Many commentators have shared their frustrations, one of them writing: “An absolute misfortune and a nightmare for wheelchair users, with strollers, etc. ” “
Eliza Rain, the social media content designer in a wheelchair, talked about demanding situations that poorly parked motorcycles pose to disabled people.
“I would say I come across motorcycles that are a factor at least 3 or 4 times a week,” he says. “Users will park them diagonally across the walk, there will be 3 on the walk. “
Eliza also said there were safe spaces she didn’t go into because of past reports with electric motorcycles not getting close to a dock.
What are the punishments if users break rules?
Lime’s rules state that the first time a user parks “incorrectly”, they will receive a warning. On the second offence, the user will be fined £2, and this increases to £20 on the fifth offence. After that, the user will be banned from using the service.
Hal Stevenson, Lime’s director of policy for the UK and Ireland, said around 95% of its users “are parking bikes in the correct place”.
Vo UK managing director Alex Bennett said that its consequences range from location to the next, adding that “they act in the form of fines or natural and prohibitions. “
In September 2024, the Brent Council of London threatened to ban Lima motorcycles if safe adjustments have been made to the service.
After a safe negotiation, Lime and Brent reached an agreement, which included a relief in the number of Lima motorcycles in the district and the creation of two hundred new parking bays, as well as more patrol cars in the region.
But Lucy and Eliza would like to see electric motorcycle corporations do more to solve this problem.
“Stricter restrictions” on those who use the bikes would help, says Lucy.
Eliza echoes this opinion. “I think it would be wonderful if the regulations were stricter but also that there is more awareness. “
Without disabilities, other people would be more reflective if they were aware of the demanding situations faced by other people with disabilities, he adds.