Lime Bikes are arriving in the North Sydney local government area this weekend. Here’s what you need to know.
The Lime Bike Network is expanding its bike share operations into our local government area, starting Saturday 23 November 2024. Lime Bike’s new north shore service area covers North Sydney, Crows Nest, St Leonards and Chatswood.
Bike share can be a good form of active transport – taking pressure off our roads and contributing to a reduction in pollution. But it also comes with several risks, including for the safety of riders and pedestrians, health of our environment, and disposal of bikes and their batteries.
Council is advocating for improved regulation to manage these risks while also exploring other regulation avenues. Transport teams from North Sydney Council and other inner city councils have made recommendations for the State Government to consider in its review of bike share policy and legislation. In our submission to the NSW Upper House inquiry on the issue, we stressed that bike share systems need better oversight and management, including docking systems to reduce clutter and keep footpaths safe for pedestrians.
Safe riding and parking
To stay safe when cycling around Sydney on busy roads, make sure to wear a helmet and familiarise yourself with the road rules. You must ride on the road, not the footpath, to keep pedestrians safe.
Poorly parked bikes can make our footpaths unsafe or inaccessible for the people using them. Please park bikes safely out of the way of pedestrian footpaths. For more information head to Lime Bike’s safety page.
What Council and the community can do about problem bikes
Lime Bike can legally operate in the North Sydney LGA, as long as they comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements. Local governments cannot prevent bike share companies from legally operating in their area.
If you find a bike that is parked unsafely or has fallen over and is blocking the footpath, move the bike to a safe position if you are able and it is safe to do so. If you are unable, please contact Lime Bike via:
- the QR code on the bike, which will connect you directly to the local team
- email at help-sydney@li.me or support-au@li.me
- Lime’s 24/7 hotline: 1800 861 305
If you have no response from Lime Bike, please contact Council’s Rangers on 9936 8100 and we can move the bike to a safe place.
If we see that a bike is unattended for seven days, Council will ask Lime to move it. If they have not moved it within four days, we can impound the bike.
Unfortunately, illegal dumping of share bikes has become a problem in some council areas, affecting local sea life and contributing to landfill waste. Broken or impounded bikes also need to be safely disposed of as electrical sparks from their batteries can ignite fires when the bikes are broken down in garbage trucks. Council will monitor and manage these issues, and the community can help by using the bikes safely and responsibly.