A SEA of abandoned e-bikes have been left strewn across a London borough after the local council failed to agree a new deal with the operator.
Lime bikes – a form of public transport used throughout the capital – come to a grinding halt if riders try to use them in Hounslow, due to a “geo-fence”, with comparisons made to Checkpoint Charlie, the Cold War crossing at the Berlin Wall.
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The local authority has this month instead chosen to award exclusive operating rights to rivals Forest and Voi.
Across the Thames River to the south, neighbouring Richmond Council has almost the complete opposite rules – with Lime and Voi being approved, but Forest bikes not being permitted.
This means cyclists trying to travel between the two boroughs over bridges are unable to do so, forcing them to abandon their bike at either end of the crossings.
What is Checkpoint Charlie?
Checkpoint Charlie was the Western Bloc’s name for the most famous Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.
It was established in 1961 by Allied forces at Friedrichstraße and after the letter ‘C’ in the NATO alphabet.
The crossing became the symbol of division and tension between the Eastern and Western blocs, and was the site of a 1961 tank standoff and a location for numerous escape attempts from the two sides of the city.
Today it is a major tourist attraction with a replica guardhouse and the nearby Haus am Checkpoint Charlie Museum.
It famously features in the John le Carré’s novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963) and the film adaptation of the same name (1965).
Locals have been left fuming at the situation, with some describing the “sea of Lime bikes filled with rubbish” being littered at the southern ends of Chiswick Bridge and Kew Bridge.
The e-bikes have been left strewn across these areas, both blocking paths for pedestrians and causing issues for cyclists wishing to travel between the two areas of the capital.
Disgruntled local Max, 24, told The Sun: “It’s ridiculous that the council hasn’t done anything about this.
“Every single day I have to wade past a sea of Lime bikes that have littered the pavement.
“Why one council would approve them and another not, I do not know.
“They’re always full of rubbish too, it’s just shocking.”
Previously, Lime users could cycle freely over the bridge, but Hounslow Council cited “stricter enforcement for designated bay use” behind their decision to award Forest and Voi operating licences and not Lime.
Another local explained online how they tried to cycle through Chiswick this month before their bike “just gave up”, forcing them to cycle back to the boundary.
It is understood the battery powering the e-bikes disconnects once cyclists cross the boundary, causing the bike to become incredibly heavy, as cyclists have to rely on just their own strength to move it forward.
Taking to Reddit to fume, they said: “[It’s] just one of the million ways in which people who choose to cycle are constantly discouraged.
“How are Lime bikes (even with their disadvantages) more of a problem than cars choking the streets?”
The bizzare bridge situation between Hounslow and Richmond has been described as “like Checkpoint Charlie” by comedian Dara Ó Briain.
The veteran comedian posted on X earlier this month over how ridiculous the situation had become, saying: “Hounslow council have banned Lime bikes, and licensed Forest and Voi; neighbouring Richmond has licensed Lime and banned the others.
“So every bridge is Checkpoint Charlie, with loads of Lime bikes parked on one side and loads of Forest and Voi on the other. Top work everyone!”
Checkpoint Charlie served as a crossing during the Cold War between East and West Berlin, which were separated by the Berlin Wall.
Foreigners and allied troops would use the checkpoint to move between the two areas between 1961 and 1989.
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Currently, the only operator valid in both areas is Voi, although customers are still stuffed as while the provider operates e-bikes in Hounslow, it does not in Richmond, providing only e-scooters instead.
Both Lime and Forest, as well as Voi, are advocating for a London-wide scheme to allow smoother cross-borough journeys.
A spokesperson for Lime said: “Lime offers a truly London-wide service. It’s important people can cycle through Hounslow on their way to other parts of London.
“We’ve already been contacted by many riders who are angry at the disruption this has caused to their journey.
“We need to make cycling easier, not harder, for residents in all parts of London.
“We hope to be able to work with Hounslow to find a way to keep cycling easily accessible to everyone in this part of London.
“We want to see councils work together so that residents can travel seamlessly across boroughs, without having to stop at borders.”
Speaking on Hounslow’s decision, Lime said it was “disappointed” with the local authority, saying it made the move “despite acknolowding the high quality of Lime’s service during its tender process”.
The spokesperson added: “Councils must prioritise service quality and functionality when selecting operators as otherwise we risk creating unpopular, patchwork schemes that drive down cycling rates and hinder London’s net-zero goals.
“We remain dedicated to working with TfL and our local council partners across the capital to ensure all Londoners have access to sustainable modes of transport and to build a more accessible, inclusive and greener city for everyone.”
Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Chair of Richmond Council’s Transport and Air Quality Committee, said: “Hounslow’s recent decision seems to have underestimated the impact on riders to and from neighbouring boroughs, including Richmond.
“Local authorities should be working to make active travel options easier, not more complicated.”
The Sun approached Hounslow Council for comment, as well as Forest.
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