Agenda item

Report ES19031

In co-operation with L B Bromley, Lime Technology Limited looked to initiate a trial in the borough of their hire scheme for dockless electrically assisted bicycles. Authority was also sought for a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed for the trial.

A similar scheme is operated by Lime Technology in a number of towns and cities worldwide including Milton Keynes, L B Brent, and L B Ealing in the UK. An initial trial scheme would run independently of the Council and require no capital or ongoing financial assistance from L B Bromley.

A Lime smartphone app is used to unlock a bike and lock the bike at the end of a journey. Users are charged through GPS tracking on each bike and the app locates the nearest available bike to use (if one is not immediately available). Bikes can be used and left beyond the borough boundary.

Between 200 and 500 bikes are proposed for the trial (the exact number set according to demand), initially distributed to key hub locations agreed with the Council e.g. railway stations and town centres. The bikes can be parked at a user’s discretion at the end of a journey but sensitive areas, where the Council does not wish bikes to be parked, can be excluded via geo-fencing.

As bike batteries typically need swapping every few days, regular monitoring, collection and redistribution of bikes to hub sites (by Lime operatives) is expected. Each bike has a 24 hour telephone helpline number and email address to immediately report issues. Through instructions on each bike and when using the app, Lime encourages users to park bikes responsibly and to use bike parking facilities where available. Bikes causing an obstruction will be removed within two hours of reporting (between 0700 and 2100 hours). 

The initial trial period will comprise 12 months with a 30-day cancellation notice for both parties. Town Centre BIDS favour the proposal and will provide a liaison with businesses that might be affected. A Memorandum of Understanding with Lime, encompassing day to day operations and expectations, will also need to be signed, a current draft being appended to Report ES19031. Should the service be successful and recommended for a further period of time, a gateway report would outline a recommended procurement route.

Lime has the same pricing structure in Brent and Ealing as proposed for L B Bromley. Lime is also looking to introduce a loyalty scheme. Both Brent and Ealing are happy with the extent of usage in their boroughs which tends (on average) to be between six and ten minutes per ride. Following approval of the trial, opportunity would be provided for consultation; comment could, for example, be provided on where provision of bikes might be of particular interest in a ward. Consultation would also include Bromley Cyclists. 

The Chairman understood that officers would be able to log into the Lime website and extract relevant data e.g. around usage of the bikes. Information could then be presented via heat maps on demand for cycling journeys. The Chairman also saw opportunities for active travel to schools and asked whether it would be possible to introduce concessions for those on lower incomes. However, it was first necessary to ensure the scheme can operate from all the appropriate places.

In a worst case scenario where a bike causing an obstruction is not removed by Lime, it can be removed by the Council. The bikes also have a kickstand to enable them to be parked in an upright position. 

A similar scheme with Lime would be launched shortly in L B Islington. The Portfolio Holder preferred to see the L B Bromley scheme launch as soon as possible and to refine it with Members if necessary as it goes forward; the Portfolio Holder hoped the scheme would be able to take advantage of good summer weather.

Lime’s proposed loyalty scheme should help the trial be successful and use of the bikes elsewhere appeared particularly popular during peak hours. After a few weeks of the trial officers could obtain a significant amount of data; the bikes will typically need to be seen every few days (to swap their batteries) and monitoring, collection and redistribution to hub sites is expected regularly - Lime moving the bikes to financially attractive locations.

Lime had indicated that vandalism to bikes is limited; should it occur, any damaged bike could be reused for parts, particularly the batteries.

The Chairman offered his thanks to Lime Technology Limited and Members supported the recommendations in Report ES19031.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree to initiate the trial E-Bike hire scheme and to authorise that the Memorandum of Understanding with Lime Technology Limited is signed.