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Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Various examples of dockless bikes


The Haringey Dockless Bike trial will run in partnership with two dockless bike operators: Lime and Forest.

Bikes are hired through each operator’s mobile app (these can be downloaded through the relevant app store for your mobile device).

Once a bike is located, the QR code on the bike must be scanned within that operator’s app to unlock the bike and allow for a journey to begin. Likewise, for a journey to end, the user must select to end their ride within the respective app (the user may be required to provide evidence, in the form of uploading a photo of the parked bike compliantly, to complete this process).

Dockless bike users are required to park in marked and virtual parking locations in the borough, or non-obstructively where these are not provided. Users who do not comply with these parking restrictions can be punished with a fine and, with continued non-compliant parking, may be banned from using these services.

Dockless bike operators provide detailed user information on preferred parking locations and no-parking zones. Locations may be introduced and updated throughout the borough during the duration of the trial.

While dockless bikes can be hired on an individual basis, users also have the opportunity to benefit from different pricing models, including discounted rides or purchasing subscriptions (please enquire with individual operators for more information about these options). 

Key to the success of the trial is ensuring that any issues, such as obstructive bike parking, are minimised. We understand that non-compliant parking can cause obstruction to pedestrians and other highway users. 

To report obstructive / abandoned bikes, please use the details below to inform the bike operators directly: 

If you have an issue that has not been resolved by the dockless bike operator(s), please contact the Council by email: docklessbikes@haringey.gov.uk. 

Parking is permitted in designated locations, as agreed between the Council and the appointed operators. These locations may be updated periodically throughout the trial period, and can be found within the respective operators’ digital apps.

For this trial scheme, the Council are adopting a hybrid parking approach, including both physical and virtual parking locations. 

In areas of high footfall, such as town centres, parking should be in physically marked bays (these are marked on areas of the footway).

Outside of these locations, virtual parking locations will be found across the borough (unique to each operator), where users will need to park at locations delineated within that operator’s digital app. 

In instances where users want to end their journey, and are located more than 100m from one of these parking locations, then they will be permitted to do so, provided the bike is not left obstructively. 

Users are requested to consider pedestrians and other users of the highways when parking dockless bikes. This includes (but not limited to) being mindful of:

  • Maintaining adequate space for, and not negatively impacting other users of the footway, particularly protected characteristic groups (e.g. disabled people, such as those who are visually impaired, wheelchair users)
  • Pedestrian / vehicular accesses and crossings (including tactile paving, shared street space, emergency exits)
  • Existing vehicular parking spaces (e.g. loading bays, blue badge holder parking)

No, dockless bikes are not permitted to be parked inside park spaces throughout the borough.

Yes, dockless bikes from both Lime and Forest can be parked in any of the marked bays across the borough.

However, the virtual bays are individual to each operator (and can be found in each operator's app).

The Council understands that dockless bikes can cause obstruction, if used or parked inconsiderately, particularly on areas of the footway. 

To minimise the impact of this, specific marked parking locations within high footfall areas have been identified to provide locations for users to start and end their journeys, to help protect the rest of the footway. Outside of these areas, virtual parking locations will be implemented across the borough to manage parking.

To successfully end a journey, users must demonstrate that they have parked in a non-obstructive manner. Failure to do so will lead to that user receiving a warning, with continued non-compliant parking leading to fines (which increase thereafter) and escalating to a ban from that operator’s services (for instance, please see Lime's parking guidance).

Bikes will be regularly redistributed throughout the borough, so that they are corralled within designated parking locations for individuals to use. In addition to ongoing bike redistribution, both operators will utilise their own patrollers and operational vehicles to help manage their fleet, while in-app messaging will reinforce the parking guidance within the borough.

Throughout the trial, the Council will monitor how bikes are being distributed, used and parked, and will respond and make changes when necessary.

If dockless bikes are still being parked in a non-compliant and obstructive manner, they can be reported directly to operators, and the Council, to respond to.

If you have specific suggestions about potential parking locations, or have noticed that some areas in your neighbourhood area would benefit from formalised parking bays, please complete the interactive map questionnaire, or contact us via email: docklessbikes@haringey.gov.uk.

From the outset of this trial in Haringey, parking is only permitted on the footway.

Other boroughs have introduced parking bays in areas of reallocated road space - typically through converting on-street car parking bays - however, this can prove to be a timely process (in terms of selecting viable locations, consultations, amending the lining, etc.).

Therefore, introducing footway parking bays was deemed to be the most efficient, expedient approach, with the option to look into carriageway parking bays remaining open as the trial progresses.

Both operators offer various discounts and concessions to users. Please enquire with each operator to see if what is available to you:

Both operators also offer subscriptions to their services. Please enquire with each operator to see how these subscriptions work:

Dockless bikes can be used to travel between certain boroughs, not only within Haringey itself. However, this is dependent on the specific arrangements which neighbouring boroughs have in place with those operators, so please check prior to use.

The dockless bike trial will run for a period of at least 18 months. This is to ensure that there is sufficient time to monitor, analyse and review user data from the trial. 

The strategic context which supports the introduction of a dockless bike scheme in Haringey is stated within the Council's adopted Walking and Cycling Action Plan (2022), in addition to featuring as a specific outcome within the Council's Corporate Delivery Plan 2023-2024.

Whilst prohibiting the use of dockless bikes was been taken into consideration, it was discounted as an option as it contradicts current local and regional sustainable transport policies. Furthermore, whilst geo-fence technology could be utilised to curtail use within Haringey – by creating a virtual perimeter around the borough – it only serves to deactivate each bike’s battery power, therefore manual cycling of the bikes is still possible, which could lead to uncontrolled parking hotspots in places such as along the boundaries with neighbouring boroughs, at the bottom of hills, etc.

Ultimately though, unlike the ongoing e-scooter trial, there is currently no legislation or regulation that allows the Council to completely prohibit the use of dockless bikes on its highways and issues, such as obstructive parking, would continue to have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. By entering into formal agreement with the operators, which includes financial contributions, the Council secures the right to its input in the scheme. This is considered to be the optimal, managed approach which will allow the Council to maximise the benefits of dockless bike usage and minimise any negative impacts within the borough. 

The dockless bike scheme is running on an initial trial basis, which will allow the Council to monitor its progress and make an informed decision on whether to make the scheme permanent at the end of the trial period.

If, for whatever reason, you would like to object to the dockless bike scheme being made permanent at the end of the trial period, you can do so by submitting your response on this website (via the Questionnaire and the Interactive Map).

You can also submit an objection by email: docklessbikes@haringey.gov.uk 

TfL Santander Bikes operate on a hire basis, much like dockless bikes, but with fixed docking stations and infrastructure.

Currently, Haringey has no plans to introduce TfL Santander Bikes within the borough.

However, there are occasions when users abandon TfL Santander Bikes. If any are found within the borough, they can be reported directly to TfL.

Since June 2021, a trial of e-scooter rentals has been taking place in London (as part of a nationwide trial, with its own set of regulations), with certain London boroughs opting to participate, alongside TfL. The Tfl London trial, which has now entered phase 2, has been extended until at least May 2026.

Currently, Haringey has no plans to introduce e-scooters for hire within the borough. While many of the current dockless bike operators also operate e-scooters for rental, the Council is prioritising the trial of dockless bikes within the wider area of micromobility and how that affects travel and modal share in the borough.

For further context, e-scooters (within the ongoing nationwide trials) are currently classified as motor vehicles in the UK, so are only permitted to be parked within marked bays (unlike bikes, which are allowed to be parked within virtual bays); rental e-scooters, as part of ongoing trials, are the only vehicles which are legal to use on public highways, as private e-scooters remain illegal (aside from use on private land).


The scheme is to run at nil cost to the Council. Any costs incurred are to be recovered by the Council (including administrative costs, such as amendments to TMOs, lining / road markings).

While improvements to cycling infrastructure have been made within the borough, it is recognised that there is more that can be done. 

The implementation of a dockless bike scheme within Haringey will hopefully coincide with further enhancements to cycling infrastructure, as outlined within the Council’s adopted Walking and Cycling Action Plan (2022), to encourage and safeguard further cycling and active travel within the borough. 

The safety of users, and non-users who may be impacted by this scheme, is of paramount importance to the Council. If planning on making use of these services, users should wear appropriate safety equipment for their journey. Furthermore, the operators themselves request the use of safety helmets and hi-visibility clothing, while users must complete in-app training prior to use (please see safety guidance from Lime and Forest).

In addition, in-person safety training is offered by the operators, including at specific safety awareness events. The Council will be seeking to arrange training events within the borough during the trial and will communicate these arrangements accordingly. 

Furthermore, the Council and its appointed operators will review and respond to feedback which relates to any incidents, and safety concerns more generally, which may arise during the lifetime of the scheme.