Local residents express frustration over e-bikes obstructing traffic and sidewalks
London: Last week, residents were pretty upset when a bunch of e-bikes blocked a road right by Waterloo Station. It was a real mess!
Chrissy Giles, who lives nearby, stumbled upon this pile of Lime Bikes on Exton Street. She couldn’t believe how many bikes were just left there.
She mentioned that the bikes were sprawled across the road and even on the sidewalk, with many of them tipped over. It was a total hazard for everyone trying to get through.
Chrissy, who’s 66, pointed out that it made it tough for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to navigate the narrow street. Cars were trying to turn but had to back out into busy traffic, which was super dangerous.
She thought the bikes were probably left there by commuters, and it’s not the first time this has happened. E-bikes have really taken off in London, but so have the issues with them being parked everywhere.
In fact, Transport for London announced that e-bike companies would face fines if their bikes block roads or spaces near underground stations. It’s about time, right?
Chrissy also said that while e-bikes are great for the environment, they can be a real problem when they’re not parked properly. It’s especially tough for people with disabilities or parents with strollers.
A spokesperson from Lime acknowledged that overcrowding in busy spots like Waterloo is a big challenge. They’re working on creating more parking spaces to keep things organized.
They also have a team dedicated to moving mis-parked bikes and clearing out crowded areas. Lime encourages people to report any issues so they can fix them quickly.
