TV host Dara Ó Briain has expressed frustration over differing electric bike licensing decisions made by councils on either side of the Thames, which he argues have led to a situation reminiscent of Cold War Berlin.

In a social media post, the comedian compared the accumulation of rental e-bikes at a bridge connecting the Hounslow and Richmond boroughs in southwest London to Checkpoint Charlie, the historic crossing point in the Berlin Wall.

Hounslow has authorized the use of e-bikes from Forest and Voi within its jurisdiction, while Richmond has opted to permit bikes from competitor Lime.

Lime has called on the councils to work together to enable riders to “travel effortlessly across boroughs” instead of navigating a “confusing patchwork of regulations.”

Richmond noted it had consented to Hounslow’s request for stopping the electric motors of its bikes whenever riders enter Richmond’s area.

This leads to the bikes becoming cumbersome to ride, prompting some users to abandon their trips; while some park the bikes responsibly, others have left them in bushes.

In his post on X, Ó Briain remarked: “Hounslow has allowed Forest and Voi bikes, while banning Lime; in contrast, Richmond has licensed Lime and prohibited the others.

“Thus, every bridge acts as a Checkpoint Charlie, resulting in a plethora of Lime bikes on one side and Forest and Voi on the other. Great job, everyone!”

Checkpoint Charlie served as a designated crossing for foreigners and allied military personnel to move between East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, during the city’s division by the Berlin Wall. It has since become a prominent tourist attraction in Berlin.

Richard Dilks, CEO of the shared transport charity CoMoUK, commented, “This odd situation is an unfortunate result of London’s current approach, where bike-sharing regulations are determined at the borough level.”

He indicated that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill currently under consideration in Parliament could empower Transport for London (TfL) to become the responsible licensing authority for rental e-bikes in the capital, allowing for a “more unified approach” across London.

A representative from Lime remarked that the current state of affairs is “frustrating for users.”

She noted, “We’ve heard from many riders who are disheartened by the new regulations.

“They shouldn’t have to navigate London as if it were a patchwork of boundaries.

“We aim to see councils collaborate so residents can travel freely across boroughs without interruptions at borders.”

Alex Berwin, policy director at Forest, commented that this situation highlights the need for “a comprehensive London-wide regulatory framework.”

He added, “We require a unified regulatory structure, a single enforcement model, and consistent operational guidelines throughout the capital, while also meeting the specific needs of each borough.”

A spokesperson for Voi stated that while users are “welcome to cycle across borough lines, parking must strictly be in designated areas within participating zones.”

He further said, “We are collaborating with local officials and TfL to work towards a city-wide scheme that simplifies cross-borough travel.”

Both Hounslow Council and Richmond Council have been invited to provide comments.

Rental e-bike companies advocate for a shift away from cars towards a more sustainable transportation option. However, there have been ongoing concerns about users obstructing sidewalks with abandoned bikes after completing their rides.

In June, TfL announced it had begun issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to Lime and Forest for bikes left on the city’s roadways.

The transport authority reported that they had issued 333 FPNs to both companies and sent out over 190 warning letters to these operators.

TfL stated that it established a new enforcement policy last year for the parking of dockless rental e-bikes in the road network.