Calls for Lime bike '£50 charges' and more London patrols to tackle dangerous dumping

Abandoned and badly parked Lime hire bikes are a "big issue" for the blind and partially sighted, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People - and MyLondon readers are calling for punishments for those who leave their hire bikes laying around in unsightly piles and public walkways.

Lime say that their e-bikes have made cycling "the single largest vehicle mode at peak travel times" in the City of London, and that their bikes contribute to greener and more accessible travel in central London. But the sight of abandoned e-bikes making a nuisance of walking around in London is a common sight, mirroring similar issues with e-scooter schemes in cities elsewhere in the UK.

Lime accept that there is an issue, and say that they need to be allocated more space, and work with on-street teams to remove poorly parked bikes. Jack Mckenna, the Senior Manager of Public Affairs at Lime, said: "As a result of the surge in usage and demand, parking has become one of the most significant challenges facing our industry, particularly in areas like the City of London where demand for e-bikes exceeds the space made available for parking."

READ MORE: 'I'd hate to flip out': Wheelchair users angry at 'bumpy' pavements and missing dropped kerbs

Have your say! How would you tackle the problem of hire bike dumping in pedestrian areas? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.

Reader Angus Not So Young writes: "They also cause difficulties for those of us who are unstable on their feet. These bikes are a bloody nuisance and should be taken off our streets if people won't put them in designated parking bays, out of the pavement. If anyone parks anywhere else, they have GPS tracking after all, then they must be fined heavily. I dread to think what it is like for wheelchair users and mums with pushchairs."

Commenter Seam agrees: "They're a pain. The neighbourhood has them regularly blocking the pavement and with school pupils using them and leaving them dumped on the pavement, mums with prams/pushchairs and the elderly struggle. Responsibility is beyond some." Gemsean1 suggests a punishment for inconsiderate users: "Charge the cardholder £50.00 extra for antisocial parking."

Goodnessme says: "Perhaps usage charges should be continuous after hire until the bike is parked properly in a designated stand/space rather than a fine later down the line. People got around London for centuries without Lime and the like!"

Dollydaydreamer writes: "These bikes are dumped all over London, it's ridiculous, and not only a hazard for people with vision impairments but also for wheelchair users, people with mobility issues, and the elderly. It's high time the owners of these bikes had patrols to lift them all, there's dozens strewn about on Manor Road in Newham and the main drag to Stratford, then in south London all about the Elephant and Castle area and Walworth. There's dozens dumped and nobody from these companies seems to collect them for weeks on end."

Have your say! How would you tackle the problem of hire bike dumping in pedestrian areas? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.