Is the game up for e-bike yobs? Lime helps police track down and fine cyclist seen riding illegally
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The electric bike hire company Lime has used its data to trace and fine a customer who rode an e-bike on the pavement in a legal first.
Lime used its internal system, thought to include the location tracking data on its for-hire bikes, to cooperate with City of London Police and trace the cyclist, who also raised his middle finger at a female pedestrian after riding on the wrong side of Fleet Street.
After the altercation, the pedestrian reported the cyclist to police with the exact time and location.
Lime then gave officers information on exactly which of their bikes had been on the road at the time.
Once the man was identified, he was hit with a fine for careless cycling at a police station and banned from Lime's devices, which also include e-scooters.
He also apologised to the woman.
The force said its collaboration on the 'relatively low level' incident had combined its 'extensive' CCTV network with 'technology and information' held by Lime on its customers.
Lime claimed it had worked with authorities and given up data in line with its 'privacy and other legal obligations'.
Lime used its system to track a cyclist who rode on the wrong side of the road and raised his middle finger at a pedestrian before handing the information to police
Sergeant Stuart Ford, of City of London Police's cycling team, said: 'The fact that we were able to identify this rider with the help of Lime demonstrates what can be achieved when we combine our extensive CCTV network with technology and information held by our partners.
'Not every offence is serious, but that doesn't mean it isn't important. We have to prioritise the greatest threats to the public, but people also expect us to act when they see behaviour that makes them feel unsafe. That's an important part of maintaining confidence in policing.
'This incident was relatively low level, but for the pedestrian involved it was a real-world encounter in which she was forced to take evasive action and then subjected to an offensive gesture when she challenged the rider.'
Alice Pleasant, Lime's UK deputy regional head for government relations, said: 'Safety is fundamental to Lime's service in London, and we do not tolerate behaviour that puts pedestrians or other road users at risk.
'We take reports of unsafe riding seriously and enforce violations of our user agreement. In this case, Lime followed established protocols when responding to an official request, in line with our privacy and other legal obligations.'
A Lime bike parked outside the entrance to a shop in Greenwich, London
Lime bikes are currently banned in two London boroughs – Hounslow and Richmond-upon-Thames – and have been subject to claims of 'anti-social' parking on pavements.
Hounslow ended its two-year agreement with Lime because of riders blocking payments and the company's high price, it was reported last year.
Rivals Forest and Voi were given contracts to run their for-hire bike businesses in the borough instead.
A council spokesman said at the time the decision was 'shaped by widespread community feedback' which found residents wanted 'stronger parking compliance, faster response times to resident concerns, and more tailored and affordable pricing'.
A spokesman for Lime told the Daily Mail: 'Despite acknowledging the quality of our service was higher in our bid, Hounslow Council selected another provider because it offered them more money.
'This is a really disappointing outcome for the thousands of Hounslow residents that rely on our bikes daily to connect to other areas of London.'
In the City of London more than 100 e-bikes were seized within a single month last year as the area took a stricter approach to pavement parking and dumped bikes.
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