This is not true. Some dockless schemes charge users for not parking in a designated area, which is often a relabelled car parking space. I think it's £10 in Norwich for parking elsewhere.
Most of the bikes dumped in silly places are either freeriders who bust the locks (so no registration so no fine, as reportedly happening in Nottingham) or vandals trying to get the hire bikes/scooters banned.
Emphasis there on "some". Richmond still trust people. How sweet. They supposedly introduced parking areas in Lewisham in 2023 or 24. Made absolutely no difference. Not a jot. I can only assume that the technology doesn't work, or is easily defeated. Or the penalty isn't high enough. Bikes still strewn all over the place - blocking pavements and generally being an eyesore.
There definitely are people who ride them without paying, and then discard them. They make a bit of a clacking sound when ridden which isn't much of a deterrent it seems. I don't much care if who dumped them, I just care that they are dumped. And they are.
The idea that there are gangs of highly motivated vandals who want to make Lime look bad is rather fanciful, but I suppose not entirely impossible.
