Lime bikes and other ridesharing apps like it are incredibly convenient ways to get around town. With just an app on your phone and just a few dollars you can walk up to any lime bike, scan it, and ride to your heart’s content. When you’re done all you have to do is put the bike down and pull down a lever – that’s it. For anyone trying to make a quick trip to the grocery store or get a  little exercise lime bikes are the perfect way to get where you need to.

      However, lime bikes aren’t too convenient for the cities they populate. Because people can leave them wherever they like, they’ve become somewhat of a nuisance, clogging sidewalks and blocking accessibility ramps. Just this summer Miami Dade commissioners voted to increase regulation of lime bikes. Now, lime bikes that block pedestrian traffic will subject their riders to a $100 fine, reports the Miami New Times. It appears lime bikes are convenient for those who use them, but can be very inconvenient for those who don’t.

      According to The Miami New Times, Lime, the company behind lime bikes, claim they are “supportive of regulations but wants them to be fair and sensible.” Regulations are likely to be bitter-sweet for ridesharing apps. New regulations would allow lime bikes to remain in service and allow for better public relations, however they could hinder their usefulness and tighten their user base if the regulations are too strict.

Hopefully in the future, local government and apps lime Lime Bike can cooperate effectively to ensure everyone benefits from ridesharing apps.

With contributions from Jose Luis Fernandez