Hundreds of Lime bikes left scattered over Sydney following City2Surf has left locals fuming about blocked streets and bus stops

By JOANNA HYNDS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 12:29, 12 August 2026 | Updated: 12:40, 12 August 2026 Abandoned electric bikes were scattered across Sydney after the popular City2Surf fun run, sparking complaints from residents.  On Sunday, the operator – Lime – offered runners a free ride after the race from the CBD to Bondi Beach, which typically attracts more than 85,000 participants. More than 10,000 trips were taken on Lime bikes in the areas surrounding the route. But the decision by some riders to discard the bikes on pedestrian paths and roads, which was documented on social media, has infuriated locals. One photo showed hundreds of bikes on the footpath at William Street in the city centre near the starting line. A video showed a collection of bikes parked at Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, which was also close to the start. 'Lime bikes dumped all over the footpaths blocking the pedestrian crossing and bus stops,' one social media user said.  'Why can't hire bike riders be considerate to pedestrians and those less able or in wheelchairs when parking their hire bikes?' Runners were pictured leaving their bikes scattered across Sydney's streets  Lime bikes seen on the footpath on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, on Sunday There was also a video recorded near Central Station which revealed pavements covered in the bikes. There are estimated to be around 14,000 Lime bikes in Sydney and Sunday's photos have reignited debate over whether the company and the NSW government are doing enough to regulate the treatment of the bikes. Pedestrian Council of Australia chief executive Harold Scruby said leaving bikes on pedestrian spaces can be a risk for people, including those who are vision-impaired. 'It's a human right to be able to walk safely on Sydney's streets. The whole thing is just out of control,' he told realestate.com.au. 'They're just one huge multinational invading our footpaths and treating people with disabilities with utter contempt. They should be renamed Slime Bikes.' Sunday was not the first time some Sydneysiders have criticised the bike-sharing service. Lime bikes were rolled out across the Northern Beaches in April but, by June, council rangers started giving out notices to the company to remove bikes parked in unsafe locations, with the council taking a tougher stance on the issue. Former prime minister Tony Abbott also posted on social media in June, sharing a photo of the bikes keeled over in the middle of pavements. Around 77,000 runners took part in the famous City2Surf race at the weekend How should cities balance shared transport convenience with keeping public spaces safe and accessible? What's your view?'I'm all in favour of cycling but this is absurd. Surely Sydney City Council and the NSW government can stop Sydney being littered with street junk,' he wrote. The Daily Mail has contacted Sydney City Council and the NSW Government for comment. A Lime spokesperson has told the Daily Mail the company is aware of concerns raised by residents. 'Knowing it would be a popular day to ride, we deployed double our usual weekend patrol team across the route on Sunday to reposition bikes and respond to reports as they came in,' they said. 'On Sunday, with strong demand around the start and finish, our team worked through the day to reposition bikes as reports came in. 'We hear the concerns raised by residents this week, and we're committed to making sure shared transport works for riders and for the communities sharing the streets around them.' The spokesperson also said that the company had measures in place to prevent safety hazards. 'Lime requires riders to park vehicles appropriately and out of the way of pedestrians,' they said. 'An AI-enabled tool scans an image of the parked vehicle to verify parking, and riders can't finish their ride until this verification is complete.' 'Riders who persistently mispark vehicles face increasing penalties, including fines, suspension, and ultimately, expulsion from the Lime platform.' NSW authorities have encouraged residents to check the bike app to ensure they are following parking rules and to contact their local council if a bike is creating a serious hazard. Daily Mail has contacted the race organisers and the City of Sydney for comment.