The rollout of Forest e-bikes across the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is now underway, with Lime’s service ending today, Friday 26 June.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council and Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, said:

“This Council has worked hard with both Forest and Lime to ensure an orderly and well-executed transition, with residents already taking advantage of the new service. 

“This change is about supporting and growing this key active travel service for residents – with better value, improved compliance and a service that works seamlessly across borough boundaries.”

Lime has already restricted parking in Richmond upon Thames, preventing users from ending journeys within the borough. From today at 12.01am, riders will no longer be able to start journeys on Lime bikes in the borough, marking the final stage of the transition to Forest as the sole e-bike operator in Richmond upon Thames. 

Forest already operates across all of Richmond’s neighbouring boroughs, helping to create a connected network across South West London, which allows riders to travel easily without worrying about borough boundaries.

Councillor Ehmann added: “I’d also like to thank Lime for their five years of service in the borough and for their support in ensuring an orderly transition.”

Forest and Lime have been working closely with the Council to ensure a smooth handover, with Lime bikes gradually being removed from the borough as Forest’s service continues to expand.

(Picture: Lime and Forest e-bikes in London SW19 – Kevin Borras/Highways News)