A beloved family-run restaurant in north-west London says it is being overrun by e-bikes, making deliveries “dangerous” and access “impossible” after the local council installed a designated bay outside its back entrance.
Lemonia, a Greek taverna that has served customers in Primrose Hill for more than four decades, claims the new parking area has turned the pavement into a “dumping ground” — with some 60 bikes recently left strewn across the street.
Owner Anthony Evangelou told the Standard: “Lime say this only happened once, but that’s not true. It’s happening on a daily basis. It’s not a nice sight and it’s making things difficult and dangerous for us, our delivery drivers, and even our neighbours.”
The 80-year-old said drivers are increasingly refusing to deliver to the restaurant, which is on Regent’s Park Road, because they no longer have clear access to Lemonia’s rear gate.
“They’ve put the bikes exactly outside our entrance. We’re a very busy restaurant – we’ve been here for 45 years – and we have lots of deliveries. But now drivers don’t want to come near because they can’t carry the boxes in,” he said.
Mr Evangelou recalled a recent Saturday when around 60 e-bikes were dumped across the pavement, blocking a nearby doctor from accessing his garage. “We had to help him get his car out,” he added. “Everybody in the area agrees — it’s a narrow street, we’ve got bin collections, a coffee shop opposite. I can see a nasty accident happening.”
Camden Council installed the parking spot earlier this year as part of its active travel strategy aimed at reducing emissions and encouraging greener transport.
But Mr Evangelou accused the council and bike rental companies of ignoring residents’ concerns. “Trying to get through to someone who can actually help is a mission,” he said. “You press 1, press 2, hold on — and then you give up. We’ve sent emails but no response. It’s stressing us out every day.”
He added: “We’re seriously considering legal action. Or we’ll stop paying the rent and let them take us to court. It’s a public area — we need them to take the bikes away. There’s no other solution.”
The restaurant, a local institution frequented by celebrities, says the growing pile-up of dockless bikes is threatening both its operations and its reputation.
“It’s been a dumping ground,” Mr Evangelou said. “And it’s getting worse.”
In response to Mr Evangelou’s concerns, a Lime spokesman said: “We never want our e-bikes to obstruct access for residents or local businesses.
“The recent good weather has seen record demand and trip numbers in Camden, particularly around the borough’s popular green spaces and hospitality venues, including in Primrose Hill.
“While it’s encouraging to see more people choosing sustainable transport, we understand the frustration when bays become overcrowded.
“We’ve increased our on-street team working in Camden and are monitoring this location closely to help keep the area accessible for everyone.”
Alex Berwin, the head of policy at Forest, added: “At Forest, we take all reports of any of our e-bikes causing an obstruction extremely seriously, particularly when it inhibits access or obstructs the public highway.
“We are committed to operating a safe and responsible service for our users and the communities we operate in.”
He added that there was a team of “on-foot Guardians” in Camden who proactively relocate abandoned e-bikes and tidy parking bays, in addition to AI technology which grades users’ end-of-ride photos.
A spokesman for Camden council said: “A dockless bike and e-scooter hire bay was installed at this location following a full consultation with residents and local businesses, with the aim to encourage active travel and improve local air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
“We will monitor the use of the bay and work with bike providers to ensure that any excess bikes are removed promptly.”
