Our Ref:        FOI-2190-2425

Thank you for your request received on 10 October 2024 asking for information about Lime bikes.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked for:

•           The number of discarded or abandoned Lime Bikes collected by your council/public workers each year since 2018.

•           The total number and value of fines issued to Lime Bike companies for improper placement or abandonment of bikes, broken down by year since 2018.

We are responsible for the management and maintenance of the TfL Road Network and will remove vehicles we consider to be a danger. We do not routinely remove or issue fines for the improper placement or abandonment of dockless hire bikes. This will be managed by the boroughs whom the e-bike operators have agreements. Operators are made aware of what is expected from them in the code of practice published on our website:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/dockless-bike-share-code-of-practice

We have been working with the boroughs and bike operators to improve and standardise operation across London, including using agreed parking locations and geofencing, a technology to limit where bikes can be taken, to steer customer behaviour. We are encouraging the Government to give cities the powers to properly manage dockless e-bikes to improve safety and ensure parking is better controlled.

•           The number of complaints received by your body relating to Lime Bikes, categorised by year since 2018.

We have done a search of the system used by our Customer Service team for the phrases ‘Lime bike’ and ‘Lime bicycle’. Please see the number of contacts we’ve received in the table below. There will be other cases that were received that may be relevant to your request but if they do not specifically refer to Lime bikes they have not been included. 

Please note that earlier data is archived in accordance with our retention policies and we are unable to extract information from this period.

If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely 

Gemma Jacob

Senior FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

[email protected]