Book now: Lime to fund 750 free cycle training sessions in Hackney

Hackney residents can now book free cycle training thanks to a partnership between Hackney Council and e-bike operator Lime.

One-to-one or small group sessions will be available to train up to 750 adults, delivered by Cycle Confident and funded by Lime. The two-hour sessions aim to help individuals and families of all abilities build up their skill levels and improve confidence when cycling around the borough.

Lime is the largest bike-sharing operator in London and the only dockless e-bike scheme in Hackney. The free training has been secured by the Council as part of its commitment to ensuring local people benefit as much as possible from the scheme, improve rider behaviour and to reduce inconvenience to residents caused by improper use of dockless bikes. This also includes:

• Securing 50% discounts for eligible keyworkers, students, pensioners and people on benefits through Lime Access
• Minimising the number of Lime bikes parked inappropriately by requiring users to park in one of 170 designated parking bays or face a fine 
• Limiting e-bike speeds and parking in parks and shared public spaces to reduce the risk of injuries
• Increasing patrols at key locations, with Lime staff removing bikes left outside of bays

As a result of these measures, 92% of the more than 500,000 e-bikes journeys ending in Hackney each month between July and September last year saw e-bikes parked correctly.

The Council is continuing to work with Lime in response to those that continue to park e-bikes in the wrong place, including providing 150 more parking bays to ensure users always have a safe and convenient place to park.

To book a free training session, visit: Cycle Confident.

In Hackney we've been working really closely with Lime to make sure that cycle hire e-bikes are a convenient and sustainable way of getting around. This free training will help riders to feel safe and confident and to ride considerately.

Our partnership with Lime has pioneered improvements to tackle any wider inconvenience  ebikes can cause. Their impressive tech means that Lime have been able to introduce geo-fenced parking restrictions so that journeys must end in designated parking bays, and geo-fenced speed limits in busy pedestrian areas like parks.

We know that some people use these bikes in an inconsiderate way and that there is still more to do. That’s why we’re working with Lime to increase parking bays and patrols at key locations.

Cllr Sarah Young, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport