Chiswick Area Forum to discuss Lime bikes

Lime bikes abandoned at Chiswick Bridge, where they stop working

A chance to talk to the LB Hounslow officers whose decision it was to change e-bike providers

The next Chiswick Area Forum will discuss Lime bikes, and LB Hounslow’s controversial decision to give the contract to two operators, Forest and Voi.

As a result of the Council’s decision, Lime bike riders suddenly found the electric bikes stopped at the border of the borough, in arbitrary places like Chiswick Bridge, the border with the borough of Richmond, and South Parade, the border with the borough of Ealing, leaving them no option but to continue on foot.

The story blew up when comedian Dara Ó Briain, who lives locally, commented that it made the boundary crossings ‘like Checkpoint Charlie’. The story was reported nationally, since when there have been campaigns launched to persuade LB Hounslow to reinstate Lime.

READ ALSO: Lime bikes lose contract to Forest and Voi in LB Hounslow

READ ALSO: Dara Ó Briain likens e-bike borders to ‘Checkpoint Charlie’

The Chiswick Area Forum, organised by the Council so residents can discuss the local authority’s work with local councillors and Council officers, will give residents a chance to hear from, and question, council officers about the decision and the wider strategy on local hire bikes, the Forum’s Chair Cllr Jack Emsley told The Chiswick Calendar.

St Michael & All Angels Church, Bath Road, Bedford Park

The meeting will also be hearing from the organisers of Chiswick Flower Market about the launch of their new grants scheme, which will fund local, environmentally friendly projects up to £3,000.

READ ALSO: Chiswick Flower Market launches green grants for local community projects

It will conclude with an open forum, giving attendees a chance to ask questions of Chiswick’s nine LB Hounslow councillors about local issues.

The meeting, on Monday 13 October at 7.30pm, will take place at St Michael and All Angel’s church in Bedford Park, starting at 7.30pm. Under Jack’s chairmanship, he has decided to hold the monthly meetings in different venues around Chiswick, rather than always in the Town Hall, in the hope that more people will attend.

Cllr Jack Emsley

Jack said: “I’m delighted to be able to bring the area forum to Bedford Park following the huge success of our last meeting in Grove Park”.

READ ALSO: Residents divided over Hounslow Council’s decision to bring back chemical weedkiller

He added: “This forum is an important part of our vibrant local democracy, and I look forward to welcoming local residents to hear about, and discuss, a range of important issues including recent changes to e-bikes in the borough and the fantastic new local grant initiative from the Flower Market.

“A huge thanks to our hosts, St Michael and All Angels, for giving us the use of their fantastic venue for this meeting.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar