Culture Share: Sounds Like Teen Spirit

The bleeping Lime sound has become the soundtrack to London summers

It sounds like teen spirit when it’s summer in London. Not the sound of kids playing in the park, music blasting out of a car driving by, or ice cream vans jingling along. No, it’s the sound of ‘borrowed’ Lime bikes. Even with the heightened political climate and youthful angst that can be felt in the air, this summer and last have been illuminated slightly by the presence of Lime bikes.

Being young and having access to a bike brings joy that few activities can match. Several iconic childhood films and TV shows depict youthful energy through kids riding bikes; IT, E.T., Jumanji, Attack The Block, The Goonies, Stranger Things and Friday all paint a vivid picture of what it means to be free. Collective, Black Unity Bike Ride, Jake 100 are examples of individuals, collectives and community groups that all embrace the power of coming together and the strength in numbers. The face of collective cycling has evolved from being white, middle-class and suburban to young, diverse and city-based, empowering more young people to take to the streets.

Lime bikes have a way of appearing as though they’re Pokémon and it can become a game trying to find a working, road-worthy hire. They spawn from nowhere, and on rare occasions, you might see them getting dropped off late in the night.

Lime already possesses a gamified element, which is part of its appeal. The map function is akin to Pokémon Go, the augmented reality game launched in 2016. It adds to the fun, especially when you come across a bike and find that it’s parked in someone’s garden or house. You have to wonder the kind of gymnastics someone had to go through to carry a 20+ kilo bike into their home.

Rare image of two Lime Bikes mating

They say you’re never more than a few feet away from a rat but it’s Lime bikes that’ll take over. A far more likely dystopian future is that they’ll rise up against humans like the machines from the Terminator-Matrix franchises. While this is a morbid and hilariously dark imagining of the future, Lime bikes are seen as disposable, largely because parking restrictions can be a nuisance for users and non-users.

Londoners already share a love-hate relationship with the e-bike company. Those who love them already see the value they bring to the city and people’s relationship with it. There’s an element of joy that comes with tracking how many kilometres you’ve ridden without feeling the need to share those metrics. Everyone has access, but each user’s relationship with Lime is different.

Those who find Lime a nuisance are likely those who raise issues regarding safety, blockages on pavements and the heightened risk that comes with having more cyclists on the road, particularly those who are less proficient. These, however, are issues and concerns that can be quelled through improved policies and incentives for riders and non-riders alike.

Kids are going to use them, one way or another. Just as people will find a way to use TfL. However, Lime has an opportunity to make them more accessible and safer for young people and wider communities. Increased docking stations and safer parking measures through a rewards system may incentivise young people and more Londoners to use Lime bikes. There’s an element of pearl-clutching when not paying for Lime bikes is considered stealing because there are no victims. With public transport in London being one of the most expensive in the world, making Lime free for 14-19-year-olds would diminish much of the anti-social behaviour.

Lime already dominates the market; however, increased usage and demand will only pressure local councils and the Mayor to expand the cycle network and improve existing lanes. Of course, London isn’t a city built like the more cycle-friendly Amsterdam but it has the potential. Earlier this year, Lime announced a £20 million plan to improve e-bike parking and safety in London. Since Boris Bikes officially launched as Barclays Bikes in 2010, e-bike and bike rental usage has grown in the capital but few brands have swept the market quite like Lime. In 2024, the brand reached 4 million users and 16 million journeys during commuter hours, signifying its eco-friendly, traffic-beating and accessibility benefits.

Launched in 2018, Lime is still relatively new but the brand has already found itself embedded in popular culture. For older generations, the logo is eerily reminiscent of file-sharing site Limewire. The success of Charli XCX’s Brat last summer meant that the lime green colour became a symbol of youth culture. The colour lime represents freedom and playfulness, a Brat-ish energy that comes with nicking a Lime bike because what’s cool about paying for one? Not much, however, this is where Lime can take advantage.

The lowest-hanging fruit for Lime would be partnerships with brands that appeal to young people through discounts and offers. But there’s a chance to embrace more playfulness and exploration. Bike ride, design and freestyle competitions could deepen people’s relationship with the brand beyond just being an e-bike rental company.

The beauty of Lime can’t be ignored. It wasn’t since I was a child that having access to a bike in this way gave me a more authentic sense of freedom. Without having to rely solely on public transport, this summer and those past, Lime has enhanced that youthful feeling you get when there are no limitations. As a north London boy, south of the river doesn’t seem so far with Lime and feels like new frontiers waiting to be explored. And ultimately that’s what we’re all chasing; that boundless teen spirit.