Lime and Forest bikes could be banned from this north London borough

"But it's not just the bright green bikes that are at risk of being outlawed, the council has its eyes on Forest, too. Last week, the council said that e-bike hire companies Lime and Forest are on their 'last warning' to tackle dangerous parking and reckless rider behaviour. If they fail to deal with the 'persistent problems', such as bikes blocking pavements, night-time noise, riders running red lights and overflowing parking bays, they could lose permission to operate in the borough."

"'Hire bike operators must take action to address dangerous, unsafe parking and poor rider behaviour. 'To make hire bike usage a fair and sustainable option in Islington we need you the operators to act and do so swiftly, decisively, and effectively to protect residents and businesses from ongoing disruption.' The letter concludes: 'We welcomed you to the borough because of the benefits that hire bikes bring - but without urgent action on these issues, this welcome will be withdrawn.'"

"Alex Berwin, Forest's head of policy, responded: 'We recognise that the service must work well for everyone, and we take the issues raised seriously. That is why we are investing heavily in better parking technology, in-app guidance and clear instructions to help users park responsibly and reduce street clutter. Our local team also responds quickly when issues are reported to help ensure bikes don't cause obstruction or inconvenience.'"

Islington Council has warned e-bike hire companies Lime and Forest they could lose permission to operate in the borough if dangerous parking and reckless rider behaviour continue. Problems include bikes blocking pavements, night-time noise, riders running red lights and overflowing parking bays. The council has added 115 dedicated bike hire bays over the past year and reports more than 200 dangerously placed bikes have been removed. Council leaders demanded operators act swiftly, decisively and effectively to protect residents and businesses. Forest says it is investing in parking technology, in-app guidance and local teams to reduce clutter and respond quickly to reports. Lime said it is committed to working with the council to minimise impacts.

Read at Time Out London