An electric bike company which started operating without permission in Oxford has pledged to work on a code of conduct.

American company Lime run app-controlled electric scooters, electric bikes and electric mopeds in various cities around the world.

But their arrival in Oxford did not get off to a good start last month.

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Traders in Frideswide Square complained when contractors for Lime started to paint lines on the pavement to mark out a new bike bay outside their shop entrances.

Amanda Suliman-Bell, who runs Rainbow & Spoon boutique, said she and other traders in the square were not consulted about the bike bay, and they stood in front of their shops until the contractors went away.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Following Lime's arrival in the city, the county council said it had "limited control over operators installing rental e-bikes".

Now it says Lime has agreed to work on a code of conduct.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) A council spokesman said: "We are in discussion with Lime, and Lime has indicated that it is happy to work to an agreed code of conduct."

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The council said it was not able to provide more details at this stage on what conditions would be included in the code of conduct.

It is understood that Lime may have decided to go ahead with setting up parking bays across the city before being given the green light. 

The company has been approached for a comment.

Some Lime bikes have been abandoned by the roadside after they have been used, instead of being parked properly.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Another local authority, the London borough of Brent, is already considering banning Lime's electric bikes, because its bikes are repeatedly being dumped.

Its council leader has drafted a list of demands that the company must agree to before a potential ban on October 31.

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These include the introduction of dedicated parking bays, resources to remove incorrectly parked or abandoned bikes, and larger fines for users who fail to leave their e-bikes in the correct location.

Voi has been operating Oxford’s e-scooter programme since 2021. There are now more than 850 e-scooters available for hire in the city and together they have been used to 2.5 million miles.

The e-scooter 'trial' has now been extended until May 31, 2026.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Andrew Gant, county council cabinet member for transport management, said earlier: “It is wonderful to announce our great relationship with Voi is continuing for a further two years. We are delighted to be able to offer people greener, more flexible alternatives to the private car for moving around our historic city.”

It is not the first time Oxford has been faced with abandoned 'dockless' bikes.

Before 2020, three dockless bike firms were operating in the city, Ofo, Pony and Mobike, but demand for their use fell, and the firms withdrew their operations.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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