Lime Says E-Bikes Are 'Not for Jousting' After Hackney Duel Video

Lime, the company behind the bright green rental e-bikes seen across London, says its bikes were never meant for jousting. The statement came Monday after video of two men dueling on the bikes in a Hackney park spread online, according to the BBC.

What happened at London Fields?

Hundreds of people gathered over the weekend in London Fields, a park in Hackney, east London, to watch artist Jack Carden and actor Camtholomew the First face off in homemade knight costumes, the BBC reported. Dressed in chainmail and carrying lances, the pair charged at each other while riding Lime e-bikes, trying to knock one another off.

Video posted to social media shows the crowd chanting "joust, joust, joust" before one rider falls after being struck by the other's lance, according to the BBC. Carden described the event beforehand as a "free public joust" and called it "performance art," the BBC reported. A clip of the stunt on his Instagram account has been watched more than four million times, per the BBC.

What did Lime say about it?

A Lime spokesperson addressed the stunt directly on Monday. "Lime bikes are designed for getting around the city, not for jousting," the spokesperson said, according to the BBC. "We discourage anyone from attempting similar events, to help keep riders and those around them safe."

The company did not condemn the gathering outright. "We always love seeing Londoners come together and build a sense of community in unexpected ways," the spokesperson said, per the BBC. "While we appreciate the medieval spirit, safety must always come first."

Why does bike safety matter here?

The BBC reported that hospitals have seen a rise in injuries tied to e-bikes, affecting both riders and pedestrians, though the report did not include specific injury figures from the Hackney event itself. The joust adds to ongoing scrutiny of rental e-bike schemes in London, where local officials have pushed for faster oversight of what London's mayor has called "Wild West" e-bike rules, according to related BBC coverage linked in the same report.

What happens next for e-bike riders in London?

No arrests or penalties tied to the joust were reported by the BBC. The incident arrives alongside broader regulatory moves in the city: the BBC noted separate reporting on new powers allowing authorities to seize e-bikes that block footpaths, and on at least one e-bike firm continuing to operate in a London borough after its contract ended. Lime's statement does not announce any new rule changes for riders starting this week. The company's message was limited to discouraging copycat events, not altering bike availability or pricing in Hackney or elsewhere in London.

For now, the episode stands as a viral moment rather than a policy shift. Lime has not said whether it plans additional messaging, signage, or in-app warnings about stunt use of its bikes following the Hackney video.