London’s heatwave is a boon for Lime bikes
As temperatures climb across the capital and commuters look for ways to avoid stuffy Tube carriages, London’s heatwave is turning into a major boost for the micromobility industry.
Lime, the Uber-backed e-bike giant preparing for a New York stock market listing, has seen demand surge as Londoners swap public transport for two wheels.
During May’s hot spell, journeys increased by 28 per cent on days when temperatures exceeded 30C compared with the previous week, according to data shared with Morning Wire, while more than half of Londoners said they had switched their usual mode of transport for walking or cycling during periods of extreme heat.
The figures suggest that what began as a convenience is increasingly becoming part of the capital’s mainstream transport infrastructure.
One in four Londoners now actively avoids public transport during heatwaves, according to the ubiquitous green operator, while 26 per cent say cycling is the most comfortable way to travel when temperatures rise.
What’s more, over a quarter are also changing travel habits altogether by shifting journeys to cooler parts of the day.
The trend is being echoed across the wider micromobility sector, with rival operator Voi reporting a 553 per cent year-on-year increase in e-bike and e-scooter use in London.
The company revealed that its journey count has risen 84 per cent during the recent heatwave, compared to pre-heatwave levels.
Forest has also cited an increase in demand during the period, with “rides up 25 per cent compared to last week and a record number of journeys on Tuesday 23rd June,” according to Alex Berwin, the company’s head of policy.
“This increase in rides isn’t just a one-off; it’s part of a wider shift towards cycling across the Capital. As London’s homegrown e-bike, we’re proud to play a part in supporting this change, offering a more sustainable, affordable, and accessible way to travel.”
Cycling to cricket, parks and pools
Demand has been particularly strong around some of London’s busiest summer destinations.
Journeys ending near The Oval rose by 325 per cent during England’s Test match against New Zealand, while trips to Victoria Park and London Fields Lido jumped by 480 per cent and 349 per cent respectively.
The figures come as Sir Sadiq Khan faces renewed pressure over delays to air-conditioned Tube trains.
Temperatures in parts of London are forecast to approach 40C this week, with an amber extreme heat alert issued for the capital amid warnings of disruption across rail, Tube and bus networks.
Opposition politicians have urged the Mayor to accelerate the rollout of new air-conditioned Piccadilly line trains after repeated delays pushed their arrival back by more than a year.
Currently only 192 of London’s 620 tube trains are air-conditioned, covering around 40 per cent of the network.
Heatwave test for TfL
The surge comes as Britain’s transport infrastructure faces growing strain from extreme temperatures.
Rail temperatures can run more than 20C higher than air temperatures, meaning tracks can approach 60C during periods of extreme heat, forcing operators to introduce speed restrictions and closely monitor services.
Dr Arya Assadi Langroudi, associate professor in Engineering and Construction at the University of East London, warned: “When temperatures soar, transport infrastructure can quite literally begin to feel the strain.”
He described the heatwave as a “stress test” for Britain’s infrastructure, where rail tracks expand and operators are often forced to introduce speed restrictions to prevent disruption.
For micromobility firms, that backdrop is creating an opportunity where Londoners search for quicker and cooler ways to move around the city, and dockless bikes become an increasingly common sight.
Claire Mann, Transport for London’s chief operating officer, said: “Given the red extreme heat warning issued by the met office for parts of the country including London, we have been working closely with other agencies, including Network Rail, the Greater London Authority and others to confirm our hot weather plans”.
“We encourage customers to think about their comfort and to consider whether their journey is necessary. We will do our best to run as many rail and Tube services as possible and keep customers as comfortable as possible,” she added.
Canada’s latest City Streets report found cycling has increased by 44 per cent since 2023, with dockless hire bikes now accounting for almost a third of all cycle journeys.
Lime targeting a valuation of almost $1.7bn on Nasdaq, and the heatwave may offer the company a glimpse of a future in which e-bikes are no longer an alternative to public transport, but part of the transport network itself.
Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Jefferies are among the underwriters for the offering.