By ANNA USHER

Lime has blamed school-holiday crowds at Luna Park and a run of nearby events for a pile-up of more than 100 of its bikes that blocked the footpath and cycleway outside Milsons Point station.

Photographs supplied to Mosman Collective, taken about 6.45pm on Sunday, show the bikes stacked four and five deep across the path, spilling into the marked bike lane and out towards the kerb.

The reader who sent the photographs has reported the pile-up to North Sydney Council and said anyone walking from the station to Bradfield Park needed to step onto the road to get past the bikes.

The same scene was filmed and posted to Reddit’s r/sydney forum on Sunday, where it drew more than 200 responses in two days. Commenters identified the spot as the foot of the Harbour Bridge bike ramp.

“Lime know exactly where all these bikes are,” one wrote. “The regulators need to enforce timely removal of these clusters.”
Another, who uses a powerchair, said the only way through was the road.

What Lime says

In a statement to Mosman Collective, Lime said keeping footpaths clear was a priority.

“We understand the frustration when that isn’t the case,” a spokesperson said.

The company said the build-up reflected demand.

“The concentration of bikes in Milsons Point over the weekend reflects how much Sydneysiders are relying on Lime to get around, particularly for short, local trips and first- and last-mile connections.”

It listed school-holiday crowds at Luna Park, performances at the Ensemble Theatre, the North Sydney Public Art Trail, and the Bastille Festival and Christmas in July celebrations “just across the Harbour”.

“Many of those visitors and locals chose Lime to reach the area, reducing traffic congestion.”

Lime said riders must park considerately, and that an AI tool checks the bike is parked correctly before a trip can end.

“Our on-street teams address misparked bikes with the help of real-time feedback, and riders who persistently mispark can face penalties including fines, suspension and, ultimately, removal from the Lime platform.”

Mosman Collective understands Lime sent a ground crew to Milsons Point on Tuesday and the area is now clear, and that the company had not received complaints or removal requests for the site recently.

The fastest way to have a bike moved is to report it directly to Lime, at [email protected] or through the Lime app.

Mosman Collective reported on 2 July that North Sydney is in line for a grant of up to $200,000 under the Minns Government’s $6.6 million Sharing Scheme Grant Program, which lets councils set no-go zones, pick which operators can run in their area, and mark out parking bays at the kerb.

Under that framework Transport for NSW can fine an operator up to $55,000 for ignoring a removal order, plus $5,500 for every day it drags on.

None of it is in force yet. The rules start in stages over the coming months.

Until they do, North Sydney rangers are bound by the old process. Council told Mosman Collective its officers can only impound a bike after a seven-day observation period and a four-day notice period, and that it is “not resourced for these additional responsibilities”.

Several residents in the Reddit thread compared the scene to the City of Sydney LGA, which is rolling out on-street parking corrals week by week and making operators use them.

Transport for NSW is aiming for 250 parking bays for 2,500 shared e-bikes this year, with 62 already in the works.

Lime Bikes are expected to cross the border into Mosman later in 2026. As Mosman Collective revealed in May, Mosman Council’s own agenda papers concede it has “almost no power” to refuse an operator.