Unlike experienced cyclists, who he explained are more likely to suffer \u201chigh energy\u201d trauma such as head, chest, or multiple limb fractures after collisions with motor traffic, Lime-related incidents are usually \u201clow energy\u201d \u2014 people losing balance or having the bike fall on them while stationary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost always the lower limbs, from ankle fractures to tibia [shinbone] fractures, and soft tissue injuries around the knee \u2014 we don\u2019t see many injuries from the knee upwards, but we\u2019ve had the odd cracked pelvis,\u201d he said. \u201cHowever, it\u2019s normally fractures either at the top of or in the middle of the tibia.\u201d<\/p>\n
>\u00a0One in 10 Lime bikes have dangerous mechanical issues including malfunctioning brakes, report suggests<\/a><\/p>\n Although comparatively \u201clow energy,\u201d the accidents can still be severe. \u201cThese bikes are heavy things, so there\u2019s quite a lot of force that goes through the bone. We\u2019ve had patients who\u2019ve required plastic surgery for open fractures,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n One case involved a 21-year-old tourist who stopped at a junction only for the 35kg bike to topple onto her leg, leaving her with an open tibial fracture that required surgery. In another incident, a man broke his ACL after losing balance when a car pulled out in front of him \u2014 a fall made worse by the weight of a bag in the Lime bike\u2019s front basket.<\/p>\n According to Liddle, many of those he treats are inexperienced riders. \u201cOften we get a lot of tourists who aren\u2019t used to the roads in London,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The bikes\u2019 sudden motorised push also plays a role: \u201cQuite often it\u2019s people I see who were literally just taking off on the bikes; they get this unexpected push from the motor, and they then lose balance.\u201d<\/p>\n >\u00a0\u201cPissed off\u201d residents use angle grinders to chop up Lime bikes abandoned by \u201cthoughtless\u201d cyclists in private car park<\/a><\/p>\n Despite the rising number of injuries, the surgeon stressed that he views Lime\u2019s presence positively, provided riders are aware of the risks. \u201cThey need to know how heavy they are, so they don\u2019t stop suddenly on them.\u201d When riding, he added, people should be \u201canticipating other traffic and stop signs, rather than braking too slowly,\u201d and avoiding distractions such as mobile phones.<\/p>\n Mark Howarth, a solicitor with Simpson Millar, said his firm was also observing \u201cgrowing concerns about serious injuries linked to hire bikes, particularly e-bikes that are heavier and faster than standard cycles.\u201d He argued that first-time users often receive \u201clittle to no safety instruction before riding, which can contribute to misuse or loss of control, especially in busy urban environments.\u201d<\/p>\n Liddle noted that the injuries he sees are distinct from those suffered by seasoned riders. \u201cThe experienced cyclists tend to have \u2018high energy\u2019 injuries. They are often hit by cars, or they will come off at high speed. They\u2019ll have lots of upper limb defensive-type injuries, so chest injuries or head injuries, and normally multiple breaks.\u201d<\/p>\n Even so, he insisted that the arrival of Lime bikes is overall \u201ca good thing, as it encourages us to exercise,\u201d while emphasising that awareness of the bikes\u2019 extra weight and different handling is essential to prevent accidents.<\/p>\n >\u00a0\u201cE-bikes are not illegal\u201d: BBC hit with more complaints about \u201cmisleading and damaging\u201d Panorama e-bike episode, as cycle shop owner says: \u201cFinding a wolf in sheep\u2019s clothing should not be a reason to attack sheep\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n This is not the first time Lime\u2019s UK operations have been criticised for safety issues. In March, an independent inspection of the company\u2019s London fleet found that nearly one in ten e-bikes had dangerous mechanical faults<\/a> that should have taken them off the road.<\/p>\n An experienced mechanic assessed 50 bikes and concluded that 12 per cent were unsafe to ride, including machines with defective brakes. A further 18 per cent were missing parts, while 14 per cent showed brake problems \u2014 figures which raised questions about how thoroughly Lime responds to fault reports.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main issue for me is somebody jumping on a bike that for all intents and purposes looks fine to ride,\u201d cycling instructor James Holloway told us at the time. \u201cThey suddenly hit the brake hard and they either find it\u2019s not working as well as they\u2019d like it to in the event of trying to avoid a collision \u2014 or that it binds on and causes them to skid.\u201d<\/p>\n Lime responded by insisting safety was its \u201chighest priority,\u201d but acknowledged that bikes reported with faults are not always removed from service immediately unless the problem involves the brakes.<\/p>\n![\"Lime](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/lime-and-human-forest-bikes-lined-hire-bay.jpg\" "\\"Lime")
Lime and Human Forest bikes lined up in the hire bay (credit: Islington Council)<\/p>\n![\"Commuter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/female-commuter-cyclist-lime-hire-bike-copyright-simon-macmichael.jpg\" "\\"Commuter")
Commuter cyclist on Lime hire bike (credit: Simon MacMichael)<\/p>\n