Brat-green in colour, though dealing more with the art of A2B than XCX, the Lime bike has become synonymous with the culture of making our way around the capital city. It’s wormed its way into our vocabulary in the same way as Oyster, Tube, and Lizzie (line), but you’ll soon need to check whether you’re riding one in the right place.
The London borough of Hounslow has brought its two-year trial with Lime Bikes to an endciting the need for ‘stricter enforcement for designated bay use’, referring to the parking of Lime Bikes that can leave pavements congested.
How will I get around Hounslow on an e-bike?
This recent news around Limes doesn’t spell the end for e-bikes in the area. Anyone who needs to travel quickly and efficiently in Hounslow will still be able to opt for a Forest or Vori bike, which have the contracts in the area now. They will operate on their exclusive rights in the borough from August 11, 2025.
From this date next week, Lime will be required to ‘geo-fence’ their bikes in the borough of Hounslow, which stretches across parts of Chiswick and Brentford. This means you won’t be able to hire or park a Lime bike in the borough.
Speaking to the BBCa spokesperson for Lime said: “We’re disappointed by Hounslow Council’s decision. We’re proud of our bid, which we believe offered the best overall value for Hounslow residents.”
Voi will have around 1,000 bikes to add to the plans for 1,087 Forest bikes in Hounslow, and the companies are now obliged to share data with the council around responsible parking to ensure the running of the council’s scheme that was requested in recent community feeback to have “stronger parking compliance, faster response times to resident concerns and more tailored and affordable pricing”.
Forest already runs in nearby borough Hammersmith & Fulham, with Hounslow now the 18th London borough the company operates in, and Voi has launched in the borough of Ealing.
