Photo: Lime
Council calls for crackdown on e-bike hacking
19 April 2023
by Christopher Carey
Hackers are bypassing software used in dockless e-bikes and using them for free, according to Westminster City Council.
The warning comes after videos circulated on social media showed users how to hack into the operating system of the bikes, with the London council adding that hacked bikes can then be dumped on pavements.
“The council receives daily complaints about dockless e-bikes being dumped on the pavement, particularly in areas like Soho where the streets are narrow and pedestrians are potentially put in danger,” said Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for City Management.
“We’re also very concerned about the apparent ease with which these bikes can be hacked and essentially used for free. There are videos across social media which demonstrate how to hack Lime bikes, and we hope that all dockless bike companies will do more to tackle this.
“Our priority has always been the safety of residents and visitors to the city and keeping our pavements clear. If these bikes are hacked, the rider is untraceable and the bikes can simply be dumped with impunity.”
In response, a Lime spokesperson said: “We ask users to report any videos circulating of tampering or vandalism of rental e-bikes to the relevant social media platform, and are seeking to work with the likes of TikTok to implement a process where reported videos are removed.
“Identified vandals have been reported to the Met [police], and we have banned a number of fraudulent users from our service. We have also identified and are testing several hardware solutions to prevent further tampering.”
Abandoned bikes
The council says it receives daily complaints about bikes being abandoned on pavements.
It has called for micromobility companies to improve apps used to rent e-bikes so that residents and businesses can report badly parked bikes more easily.
Discussions between the council and dockless bike companies about creating designated parking bays are ongoing.
Last month, Lime introduced a £10 (US$12.42) fine for anyone dumping an e-bike in Soho or Covent Garden, but a spokesperson for the company told Cities Today they were “not able to provide any figures on the amount of fines issued and paid.
Image: Lime
