Key Points

• The phased changeover of e-bike operators in the London Borough of Richmond from Lime to Forest is now complete, meaning Lime bikes cannot be parked or hired within the borough, though they may still be ridden through it.
• Richmond Council appointed Forest as the sole e-bike operator after a borough-wide consultation and procurement process; Forest is paying around £3 million to the council over three years, compared to roughly £300,000 per year from Lime.
• From 1 June 2026, Forest began operating in Richmond, with its bikes appearing on streets while Lime reduced its fleet; from 26 June 2026, riders cannot start or end Lime journeys in the borough.
• As reported by Deniz Huseyin of TransportXtra, Forest’s bid was in excess of £3 million – £1.2 million in each of the first two years and £1.3 million in the third – whereas Lime offered about £300,000 a year.
• The council said the move aims to reduce clutter, improve regulation and deliver better value for residents, following public hearings and resident feedback.
• Lime said the single-operator model could create “unintended consequences” and called for multiple operators to be allowed in London boroughs to ensure a “seamless approach to transport”.
• From 23 June 2026, Lime had already restricted parking in Richmond, preventing users from ending journeys within the borough; from 26 June at 12:01 am, users could not start journeys on Lime bikes there.
• Residents who ignore the parking restrictions on the Lime app could incur a fine; any Lime bikes remaining after 26 June will be removed by the operator and can be reported via Lime’s website.
• Local residents launched a petition urging the council to rethink the Lime ban, which reportedly attracted more than 1,500 signatures.
• The council and operators are communicating directly with users through apps and notifications, and further updates are being shared locally as the transition concludes.

Richmond (South London News) July 3, 2026 –The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has completed its transition from Lime to Forest as the sole e-bike hire operator, effectively ending Lime’s five-year presence in the area. As reported by the council on its official website, the phased changeover is now complete, meaning Lime bikes can no longer be parked or hired in the South West London borough, although they can still be ridden through it.

Why is Richmond now using only Forest e-bikes instead of Lime?

The decision to replace Lime with Forest was made earlier in 2026 after a detailed procurement process. As reported by Richmond Council, the appointment followed a borough-wide consultation, public hearings with operators, and a procurement process shaped by resident feedback.

The council said the shift to a single operator was intended to reduce clutter, improve regulation and offer better value.

As noted by TransportXtra, Forest is paying around £3 million to the council over three years, significantly more than Lime’s offer.

What exactly changed for Lime users in Richmond from June 2026?

From 1 June 2026, Forest began operating in the borough and its bikes started to appear on streets, while Lime began reducing its fleet. As stated by the council, some Lime bikes remained for a short period during the transition.

From 23 June 2026, Lime restricted parking in Richmond, preventing users from ending journeys within the borough.

As outlined by the council, from 26 June 2026 at 12:01 am, riders could no longer start journeys on Lime bikes in Richmond.

Readers were told that riders can still travel across Richmond as part of longer journeys, but as of 26 June, journeys cannot start or end within the borough boundary.

How are residents and users being guided to switch to Forest?

Both operators are contacting users directly through their apps and notifications, and the council continues to share updates locally.

As reported by Richmond Council, residents planning to continue using hire e-bikes should download the Forest app, create or log into a Forest account, check for introductory offers and then use the app to find and unlock bikes across Richmond and neighbouring boroughs.

The Forest app enables users to locate, unlock and pay for rides, and users must be over 18 to register.

What did Lime say about being kicked out of Richmond?

As reported by the Evening Standard, Lime warned of “unintended consequences” if its popular hire bikes could not be used across south-west London.

Lime has called for multiple e-bike operators to be allowed in London boroughs for a “seamless approach to transport”, after it was kicked out of Richmond.

This stance reflects Lime’s broader concern that a single-operator model could limit flexibility and connectivity for users travelling across multiple boroughs.

How much money is the council getting from Forest compared to Lime?

The financial terms of the new deal were highlighted in media reports. As reported by TransportXtra, Forest’s bid was in excess of £3 million – £1.2 million in each of the first two years and £1.3 million in the third – while Lime offered the council about £300,000 a year.

This more than tenfold increase in annual payments to the council was cited as a key factor in the decision to switch operators.

What reaction has the Lime ban sparked among residents?

Local residents launched a petition urging the council to rethink the Lime ban. As reported by South London Co, the petition hit over 1,500 signatures, with residents arguing that the ban could reduce convenience and limit competition.

Some residents expressed concern that the move would make it harder for people who rely on Lime for short trips, particularly those who do not have access to the Forest app or an account.

Are there any restrictions on riding Lime bikes through Richmond?

As clarified by the council, there are no restrictions on riding Lime – or any other operator’s – bikes through the borough.

Riders can still travel across Richmond as part of longer journeys, but as of 26 June, journeys cannot start or end within the borough boundary.

Readers were warned that riders who ignore the new parking restrictions on the Lime app could incur a fine and any Lime bikes that remain after 26 June will be removed by the operator.

The council also advised residents to report any remaining Lime bikes by completing a request on Lime’s website.

What does this development mean for South London’s e-bike landscape?

The Richmond decision marks another step in what some media have described as “e-bike wars” across London, with different boroughs experimenting with single-operator deals.

As noted by the Evening Standard, Lime has warned of “unintended consequences” if its bikes cannot be used across south-west London, arguing that a fragmented system could harm users who travel across multiple boroughs.

The council’s focus on reducing clutter and improving regulation is likely to be watched by other boroughs considering similar moves.

What is the background of the Richmond e-bike operator change?

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has operated a dockless e-bike hire scheme for around five years, with Lime as the primary operator.

In early 2026, the council launched a procurement process to select a new operator, inviting bids from multiple companies.

As reported by TransportXtra, Forest emerged as the preferred bidder after outregarding Lime on price and proposed service terms.

The council’s decision was informed by a borough-wide consultation, public hearings with operators, and resident feedback.

As stated by Richmond Council, the move was intended to reduce clutter, improve regulation and deliver better value for residents.

The contract with Forest is set to run for three years, with payments of around £3 million over that period.

How could this development affect residents, commuters and e-bike users in South London?

For residents of Richmond, the change means they must switch to the Forest app to hire e-bikes locally. People who previously relied on Lime for short trips will need to create a new account, adapt to different pricing and learn new parking rules.

For commuters and visitors who travel across multiple South London boroughs, the single-operator model in Richmond could create discontinuities.

As Lime warned, if its bikes cannot be started or ended in Richmond, users travelling from neighbouring boroughs may face extra steps or costs.

In areas where other boroughs follow Richmond’s approach, the overall e-bike network could become more fragmented, potentially making it harder for users to plan journeys that cross multiple boundaries.

This could particularly affect those who depend on flexible, low-cost transport for short trips to work, education or leisure activities.