Lime bikes lose contract to Forest and Voi in LB Hounslow

Lime bikes

Over 1.7 million e-bike trips taken in the borough since rental e-bikes were introduced two years ago

Hounslow Council has appointed two new operators, Forest and Voi, to deliver exclusively its e-bike service for residents. Both contracts will begin on Monday 11 August 2025.

‘This move follows a competitive procurement process’, the Council says, ‘shaped by widespread community feedback’.

They do not say why Lime bikes lost the contract, but there have been problems with bikes left in the middle of pavements rather than where they should be parked, and there were initial problems with noise overnight as the company recharged the bikes’ batteries.

READ ALSO: E-bike company Lime to investigate botched launch in Chiswick

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There are currently more than 250 designated e-bike parking bays across Hounslow, and the Council says it is reviewing enforcement procedures to maintain clear pavements and discourage poor parking behaviour.

Since the scheme began in 2023, over 1.7 million e-bike trips have been taken in the borough. In June 2025 alone, there were over 127,000 trips and nearly 30,000 active users.

Forest and Voi bikes

Benefits residents can expect to see from the new contractors

The benefits the Council says residents should see from the new contracts with Forest and Voi are:

• Lower prices: Tailored discounts for residents, low-income users and local businesses.
• Improved parking: Advanced technology and stricter enforcement for designated bay use.
• Safer riding: Induction training, moderated speeds for new riders and safety incentives.
• New e-bike options: Including lighter models and trialling e-bikes with cargo baskets or child seats.
• Accessibility: 24/7 bilingual customer support.
• Sustainable operations: Zero-emission service vehicles
• Community focus: Partnerships with community organisations and local apprenticeships.

“We will continue to monitor performance and resident feedback to ensure the scheme delivers long-term value and supports sustainable transport across the borough”, said Cllr Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport.

Forest bikes; Photograph by Philafrenzy 

Forest are the fastest-growing shared e-bike operator in London

Forest is one of the three biggest e-bike operators in London, alongside Lime and Santander Cycles.

Over five years it has established itself as the fastest-growing shared e-bike operator in the city. As of June 2025, Forest has over 14,000 bicycles across London.

The service aims to be different to its competition by promoting an environmentally friendly agenda – their claim is that they are the only London based operator with zero emissions, powering all bikes and service vehicles with renewable energy.

They charge riders £1 to unlock their ride, and reward them with 1 minute for parking in borough designated parking areas. They also provide users with ten minutes of free service per day.

The contract with Hounslow means Forest will now be operating in 18 London boroughs.

Lime bikes abandoned on pavements in Chiswick

Abandoned e-bikes still a problem

Despite the promise of improved parking, abandoned e-bikes remain a problem in London.

Transport for London has issued more than £30,000 of fines to Forest and Lime this year for dockless bikes that were left abandoned in Red Routes.

TfL commissioner Andy Lord said last month:

“Since January we have been actively addressing the issue of e-bikes abandoned on the highway … Our officers have been stationed at key hotspots across London to identify and report on such cases”.

TfL uses evidence from CCTV of bikes obstructing the road or pavement, and sends it to the bike operator, who is expected to go and remove them.

Voi. bikes

Voi operates e-bikes in several European capitals and have been making inroads in west London

Unlike Paris, where there is one set of rules governing e-bikes which applies across the city, the 33 London boroughs each set their own rules for the number of e-bikes on the streets and how to tackle the problem of inconsiderate parking.

Voi have called for there to be one set of rules governing dockless bikes across London.

They are a Swedish company who have gradually been making inroads into the e-bike rental market in London. They already operate in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington & Chelsea.

They charge 49p to unlock and 18p per minute.

When they won the contract for Ealing in May, Christina Moe Gjerde, Voi’s Vice President for Northern Europe, said:

“The demand for shared e-bikes in London is astronomical, but it’s clear for all to see that the status quo is not working for all Londoners”.

Voi operate e-bikes in Berlin, Brussels, Oslo, Helsinki, Vienna and Stockholm.

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