6 days ago
On your bike! Lime booted out of west London borough after pavement parking complaints
Lime has lost the right to operate in a west London borough after residents complained about its e-bikes blocking pavements and the cost of hiring a bike.
Hounslow council has ended its two-year association with the firm, which dominates the capital's bike hire market, and appointed two rivals in its place.
The move is thought to be the toughest response yet from a London borough to concerns about 'anti-social' parking - though there are also suggestions that the council simply opted for the most lucrative bid.
But the move also appears to highlight how councils are increasingly requiring dockless bike hire firms to meet tough standards, while seizing the opportunity to generate income - ahead of a long awaited city-wide regulatory scheme mentioned in the Government's devolution white paper.
Hounslow's decision, following a retendering process, is expected to mean that Lime will have to 'geo-fence' its bikes to prevent them being hired or parked in the borough, which includes Chiswick and Brentford.
A Lime spokesperson said: "We're disappointed by Hounslow council's decision. We're proud of our bid, which we believe offered the best overall value for Hounslow residents by focusing on quality of service, safety, and community benefit above all.
"We're also disappointed for the thousands of Hounslow residents that rely on our bikes daily to connect to other areas of London.
'Built over seven years operating in the capital, Lime's service has allowed people living in Hounslow to access all parts of the city, and cycle as far as Hackney and Lewisham in one easy journey.
'It's important for councils to prioritise seamless mobility across London for their residents when selecting operators as otherwise we risk creating a patchwork system that undermines this.
"Our data proves this. Since we launched in Hounslow in 2023, the number of Lime rides has more than doubled year-on-year, and we've seen a massive 95 per cent increase in people using our bikes to commute.
'It's clear that Hounslow residents have embraced cycling, and we're glad to have supported the council's wider cycling goals.
'We remain dedicated to working with TfL and local councils across the capital to ensure all Londoners have access to sustainable modes of transport and to build a more accessible, inclusive and greener city for everyone.'
Last November, neighbouring Brent council had threatened to evict Lime after similar complaints from residents about abandoned bikes, but struck a lucrative deal to fund the provision of 200 on-street bike parking bays.
Hounslow has appointed Forest and Voi in place of Lime, under a new contract that will begin on August 11.
The council held a competitive procurement process, 'shaped by widespread community feedback' that requested 'stronger parking compliance, faster response times to resident concerns and more tailored and affordable pricing'.
There are currently more than 250 designated e-bike parking bays across the borough and the council pledged to review its enforcement procedures 'to maintain clear pavements and discourage poor parking behaviour'.
Lime bikes have been used for more than 1.7m trips since a trial was launched by the council in 2023, with it being extended to Isleworth and Osterley due to its popularity.
The new scheme will have lower prices, including discounts for residents, low-income users and local businesses, and will use advanced technology and stricter enforcement to ensure the Forest and Voi bikes are parked in designated bays.
There will also be lighter e-bikes, including the trial of e-bikes with cargo baskets or child seats.
According to the website, Lime's trial 'drew criticism for widespread antisocial parking, hacking incidents, and inadequate customer support'.
It added: 'Bikes were often left blocking pavements, driveways, and even junctions, prompting safety concerns from residents and councillors alike.'
Forest already operates in Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham and plans to have 1,087 of its green e-bikes in Hounslow.
Voi recently launched in Ealing and has earmarked other west London boroughs.
Forest said it had secured first place in the council's tendering competition. Its arrival in Hounslow will mean its bikes are available in 18 London boroughs.
However, there have been reports that the council awarded the contract to the firms that offered to pay most for the right to operate within the borough.
Last month Forest bikes were used for 1.5m journeys in London – 60 per cent up on July 2024.
Alex Berwin, head of policy at Forest, said: 'We are excited to be expanding into Hounslow and bringing affordable e-bikes to even more Londoners.
'We know that the demand for sustainable ways of travel is only growing, and as the winning operator in Hounslow, we are proud to offer Forest bikes to local residents who are seeking more convenient and greener modes of transport.
'As a company founded in London for Londoners - our continued expansion reflects our commitment to delivering for the capital, and we look forward to a collaborative and successful partnership in Hounslow.'
Transport for London has announced free 60-minute rides on its Santander-sponsored 'Boris bikes' each Sunday in August.
Riders should download a free code via the TfL website.
