Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast 143: Day 4: Lime Bikes and Broken Legs
18 snips
May 17, 2025 
In this conversation, Jim Waterson, Editor of London Centric and a Paul Foot Award finalist, sheds light on the alarming rise of broken legs linked to Lime electric bikes in London. He questions accountability in commuter safety as injuries skyrocket, revealing design flaws and negligence by the company. Waterson emphasizes the critical role of local journalism in addressing these urgent issues and discusses the challenges of sustaining quality reporting in a declining media landscape. It's a riveting exploration of safety vs. corporate growth.
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Spike in Broken Legs from Lime Bikes
- Several Londoners reported breaking their legs due to heavy Lime bikes falling on them.
- Trauma surgeons noticed an unusual surge in leg injuries caused by these e-bikes acting like pivot points during falls.
Lack of Regulation in E-Bike Market
- Lime Bikes operate in London without strict oversight from local authorities.
- Their unregulated flood of the market raises questions about who truly controls public space safety.
Popularity Amid Safety Neglect
- Despite injuries, Lime bikes are popular and liked by almost all users.
- The problem lies in lack of oversight, echoing the early unregulated ride-hailing industry disruptions.