Hammersmith and Fulham Council has approved plans to allow two more e-bike firms to operate in the borough alongside Lime and Forest
A West London council has approved plans to double the number of e-bike operators in the borough from two to four in an effort to improve standards.
Prior to the decision, Lime and Forest were the only two operators available in Hammersmith and Fulham. The two additional operators have not been publicly disclosed. Neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea, according to a Hammersmith and Fulham Council document, already had four operators, with Bolt and Voi granted licences alongside Lime and Forest.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council is also to outline clearer requirements with providers and allocate resources specifically to manage the oversight of dock-less e-bikes.
Council officers hope the move will support active travel, boost innovation and allow for new terms and conditions to clarify expectations, such as bay only parking. Several London councils have banned Lime in recent months, including Richmond which awarded an exclusive contract to competitor Forest. MyLondon rounded up when Lime bikes are banned here.
Hammersmith and Fulham officers wrote in papers which went before Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier, Cabinet Member for Public Realm, that the existing deals would benefit from “further clarity of the standards of service” as well as a review of the fees paid.
Officers added that anecdotally the local authority understands boroughs which have agreed exclusive deals with single operators continue to experience difficulties, due to customers using other e-bikes still being able to ride into the area.
“If an operator is to launch its service in LBHF, it is better that it takes place within a clear and efficient regulatory framework set by the Council.”
Further operators keen to have their e-bikes in Hammersmith and Fulham may also get the opportunity to enter into an agreement, as long as they can demonstrate they meet the requirements.
Each operator will be allowed to run a fleet of up to 1,000 e-bikes, and must adhere to conditions including that officers have access to a live dashboard and sanctions be taken against users who do not park properly.
The council acknowledges some of the disadvantages to introducing more operators, such as the potentially greater negative impact from the number of bikes and more officer time being required.
They noted that in recent years the usage of e-bikes has grown significantly which in-turn has resulted in greater impacts on the public realm.
“In the year to October 2025, almost 3,000 (2,989) reports were received on the third-party ‘Love Clean Streets’ platform, reporting issues with e-bikes, mainly reporting badly parked bikes causing a nuisance or obstruction (2,413 in the year to Oct 2024),” the papers state. “The arrival of new operators in London (Additional Operator 1 and Additional Operator 2) highlights the lack of London-wide regulation for dockless bike hire schemes.”
Council officers added: “This new position will be used to ensure that users have more choice and increased access to a convenient service and that non-users expectations of clear pavements and tidily parked rental e-bikes are realised.
“The recruitment of an officer to manage the oversight of the schemes will be a prerequisite of the success of the new arrangement.”
Cllr Chevoppe-Verdier said: “Rental e-bikes give people a genuinely convenient way to get around the borough and will continue to play a key role in taking climate action and boosting active travel in Hammersmith and Fulham.
“But residents have also told us loud and clear that bikes abandoned on pavements are causing real problems – especially for older residents, Disabled people and families with pushchairs. With this new agreement, we’re making cycling and walking in Hammersmith and Fulham better. And we’re making sure our streets work for everyone – whether you ride or not.”
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