Lime loses contract to operate e-bikes in Hounslow

Forest and Voi beat out Lime to operate its e-bikes within Hounslow

A west London council has ended a two-year trial allowing Lime e-bikes in the borough.

Hounslow Council has instead offered a contract to rival e-bike rental firms Forest and Voi, listing "stricter enforcement for designated bay use" as one of the benefits of the updated scheme.

BBC London reported complaints from a resident in 2023 who claimed Lime bikes were deliberately being parked in "dangerous places".

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."

The contract, which will give Voi and Forest exclusive operating rights in the borough, will begin on 11 August.

A council spokesperson said the decision followed a competitive procurement process "shaped by widespread community feedback" requesting stronger parking compliance and more affordable pricing.

There are more than 250 e-bike parking bays across Hounslow and the council said it is "reviewing enforcement procedures to "maintain clear pavements and discourage poor parking behaviour".

Pavement blocking has been a concern across London since e-bikes were introduced

The move follows a wider crackdown on poor e-bike parking across London's boroughs - with all firms facing some degree of criticism.

Transport for London (TfL) said in June it had begun issuing fixed penalty notices to Lime and Forest for abandoned e-bikes on the capital's roads.

In February, the City of London seized more than 100 e-bikes to tackle pavement parking.

Both firms have said they are working to address issues around users' poor parking.

Hounslow Council's spokesperson said that since the e-bike scheme began in 2023, more than 1.7 million journeys have been made, with 127,000 made in June this year alone.

The Lime spokesperson said: "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."

They added that since launching in the borough, the number of Lime rides has more than doubled year-on-year.