5,000 people cap for free Lime bike joust in London park

Residents of Hackney gathered at London Fields Park on Saturday for the second iteration of a public event where two men on hire e-bikes engaged in medieval-style combat. The free gathering drew a large crowd, with online reservations capped at 5,000 people. Organizers stated that the goal was to provide a communal experience that helped participants feel alive.

The duel pitted actor Cameron Carnegie-Brown, who competes under the name Camtholomew the First, against artist Jack Carden. Both riders used Lime e-bikes for the match. The event was not a traditional competition for prize money. Instead, the pair launched an online fundraiser that split all donations among five different charities.

Safety measures were a central focus for the planning team. Carnegie-Brown and Carden identified crowd safety as their biggest priority. They divided the park space into three distinct sections: an action zone for the riders, a dead zone for buffer space, and a spectator area. Stewards managed the crowd flow, and health professionals were stationed at the site to assist attendees.

Lime, the operator of the e-bikes, had previously addressed the unusual use of its fleet. The company noted that its bikes were not designed for jousting. A company statement emphasized that while it appreciated the medieval spirit of the event, safety had to remain the first priority. Despite this, a professional jouster from Leeds reviewed the footage and described the activity on the e-bikes as a legitimate form of the sport.

Carnegie-Brown described the sensory experience of riding in armor. He noted that putting on the visor creates a moment of isolation where the rider can only see their opponent through a narrow slit. He said the rider hears their own breath and the crowd, and the adrenaline surge makes the heart beat faster. The physical act of pedaling and ramming the opponent creates a feeling of exhilaration that he believes is shared by the audience.

Tommy Moore, a 28-year-old content creator involved in the event, explained the logistical reasoning behind the choice of vehicles. He said that sourcing horses in London is difficult. Using Lime bikes allowed the event to bring the historical concept into the 21st century. Moore described the atmosphere as respectful and focused on community building rather than just entertainment.

Hackney Council stated that it had not granted permission for the event to take place within the borough. Despite this, the organizers proceeded with the planned timeline. They released the specific location of the event to RSVP holders two hours before the start time to manage the crowd. Carnegie-Brown called the event a form of British performance art and a showman's act.

The first duel also attracted a large turnout, which the organizers said exceeded their initial expectations. Carnegie-Brown noted that the scale of the crowd was surprising. He believed that the shared experience would create lasting connections among the attendees. The pair planned a larger space for the second duel in response to the demand seen in the first event.