Richmond Council has awarded an exclusive three-year e-bike contract to Forest, outbidding Lime by over £1 million. The decision, made on Monday night, means Lime bikes will only have 'ride through' rights in the borough, preventing users from parking or hiring them within Richmond's boundaries.
Lime bikes accounted for 1.5 million trips in Richmond last year. Cyclists warn that the restriction will hinder cross-borough travel, particularly in Barnes, where many residents and school pupils rely on Lime bikes to cross Hammersmith Bridge to reach Hammersmith Tube station. The bridge has been closed to vehicles for seven years.
Industry insiders fear the decision will create a 'Checkpoint Charlie 2.0' scenario, with bikes abandoned at borough borders due to geo-fencing restrictions. This mirrors a similar situation in Hounslow last summer, where Lime was initially excluded before being granted ride-through rights. One source said: 'If you can’t park in the borough, there is no benefit to riding through. Everyone will abandon bikes on the border.'
Richmond's transport committee voted overwhelmingly for a sole operator contract, ending Lime's tenure as the sole operator since 2021 under a memorandum of understanding. Forest will now dominate south-west London, operating in four neighbouring boroughs: Hounslow, Richmond, Kingston, and Sutton.
A Forest spokesperson said: 'We’re delighted to be bringing our e-bikes to Richmond, supporting the borough’s ambition to expand sustainable travel options.' David Tidley, Richmond's head of transport strategy, noted that Lime had provided a 'successful' service but that the council would not agree to a contract with a 'significant risk' of price increases, as occurred after Forest secured the Hounslow contract.
