Sticking it to bad bike parkers: Meet the duo behind ‘Don’t be a lemon with your Lime’

If you are a London resident, you have likely encountered the inconvenience of poorly parked Lime bikes cluttering the city streets. For creatives Agatha O’Neill and Sarah Lisgo, this issue was more than just a minor annoyance – it sparked the idea for a guerrilla sticker campaign known as Don’t Be a Lemon with Your Lime, which serves as both a protest and public service announcement driven by a passion for purposeful design.

The duo had been wanting to address this problem for a while, as dumped bikes have become a common sight in London, gradually worsening over time. They were particularly moved by the accessibility challenges posed by abandoned bikes, especially for disabled individuals navigating the already complex city streets. Sarah’s perspective was influenced by her partner’s care for Kyle, who has cerebral palsy, highlighting the overlooked barriers to accessibility in daily life.

The project’s playful title, Don’t Be a Lemon with Your Lime, was a natural fit once they decided on using stickers as their form of protest. They crafted a series of bold, graphic stickers with humorous and sassy messages aimed at Lime bike riders to grab attention and prompt a moment of reflection before abandoning their rides.

While the campaign’s tone is light-hearted, the message is serious, aiming to address important issues in a relatable way. By choosing stickers as their medium, Agatha and Sarah found a clever way to bring awareness and impact, as the stickers stay with the bikes, reaching every new user and encouraging more careful parking.

Moreover, the campaign serves as a fundraising opportunity for disability charities, allowing people to buy the stickers online and spread the message further. The positive public response has been encouraging, with many expressing support for the initiative, especially in London where the need for such reminders is evident.

Agatha and Sarah emphasize that the campaign is not directed at Lime but at irresponsible riders. They hope to collaborate with Lime and local authorities to address the impact of careless parking on specific communities. While currently focused on London, the project has broader ambitions and aims to expand beyond the capital, addressing parking issues nationwide.

Ultimately, the success of Don’t Be a Lemon with Your Lime lies in creating awareness and inspiring small changes in behavior. If their stickers can encourage even one Limebike user to park more considerately, the campaign will have achieved its purpose of promoting responsible bike parking and fostering a more considerate urban environment.