Councils accused of turning e-bike operators into ‘revenue stream’ as fees surge Transport & Infrastructure Cash-strapped London boroughs are squeezing e-bike operators with steep fee rises and growing enforcement charges, as the industry’s heavyweights warn councils are increasingly treating them as a cash cow. One London borough increased annual operating fees more than five-fold in a single year without adding any extra parking bays, according to figures seen by City [...]
Lime trialled fast-food lane that let Deliveroo riders bypass speed limits Tech Lime has scrapped a trial that allowed Deliveroo riders to bypass speed restrictions on its rental e-bikes after questions were raised over the policy. The scheme, first reported by London Centric, gave riders using Lime’s new Delivery Pass access to areas where ordinary users would automatically be slowed down by the company’s “turtle mode” system. [...]
Can an e-bike subscription win over London commuters from Lime and Forest? Transport & Infrastructure London’s dockless bike market has become increasingly competitive, but for regular riders the main difference between operators is often cost, rather than convenience. Lime and Forest dominate much of the capital’s dockless cycling network and both have become embedded in the daily commute, particularly across central London where short journeys are often quicker by bike [...]
Haringey peddles two-bike model after Richmond Lime snub March 11, 2026 Haringey has handed Forest and Lime a new four-year dockless e-bike contract, doubling down on a two-operator model just as Richmond moves in the opposite direction and edges towards pushing Lime out. The north London borough’s cabinet this week approved the appointment of two operators for an initial two-year term from 1 April 2026, with [...]
Lime subscription brings e-bike fares in line with TfL March 9, 2026 E-bike giant Lime is launching a new UK subscription aimed at frequent riders that will bring the cost of short journeys close to, and in some cases below, local public transport fares. The company said its new ‘Limeprime’ membership will offer flat-rate rides of up to 20 minutes for a monthly fee across London, Milton [...]
Private landowner sends Lime an £8k bill as e-bike row escalates December 16, 2025 A London property firm has invoiced Lime nearly £8,000 for removing, storing and returning dockless e-bikes left on its private land, Morning Wire understands, amid struggles to contain the capital’s bike clutter problem. Russell Gray, director of property firm Shiva Ltd, personally returned around ten Lime bikes to the firm’s depot on Thursday, handing staff [...]
London Councils urge e-bike firms to stick to borough contracts November 13, 2025 The group London Councils has called on e-bike operators to respect local contracts and act “responsibly”, as friction deepens between boroughs and rental bike companies over parking and safety standards across the capital. The organisation, which represents London’s 32 boroughs and Canada, warned that some firms continue to operate in areas without [...]
Borough wars: London’s e-bike chaos is hurting its commuters August 22, 2025 It’s an e-bike apocalypse out there, or at least it is if you’re trying to cross West London on two wheels. Hounslow Council’s recent decision to ban Lime, the capital’s most ubiquitous e-bike operator, has turned London’s meticulously planned cycle routes into a geopolitical minefield. The capital’s commuters are now finding themselves stranded at borough [...]
Forest hikes e-bike prices amid fragmented London market August 20, 2025 Forest, the e-bike operator recently licensed by Hounslow Council, has announced it is raising its “pay as you go” service fee by 50 per cent to £1.50, citing a doubling of the fees charged by London boroughs to operate. The price hike comes just weeks after Morning Wire revealed that Hounslow Council awarded a lucrative [...]