Councils accused of turning e-bike operators into ‘revenue stream’ as fees surge Transport & Infrastructure Cash-strapped London boroughs are squeezing e-bike operators with steep fee rises and growing enforcement charges, as the industry’s heavyweights warn councils are increasingly treating them as a cash cow. One London borough increased annual operating fees more than five-fold in a single year without adding any extra parking bays, according to figures seen by City [...]
Haringey peddles two-bike model after Richmond Lime snub Transport & Infrastructure Haringey has handed Forest and Lime a new four-year dockless e-bike contract, doubling down on a two-operator model just as Richmond moves in the opposite direction and edges towards pushing Lime out. The north London borough’s cabinet this week approved the appointment of two operators for an initial two-year term from 1 April 2026, with [...]
‘What if a blind person falls over an e-bike?’: The untenable rise of whataboutism Opinion Rowing about hypothetical dangers like e-bikes on pavements is turning London into a febrile City, scared of progress, writes Michael Martins.
Lime bikes: UK sales spike as expansion continues October 7, 2025 Turnover at the UK arm of shared bikes provider Lime has spiked as its expansion across London continues, it has been revealed. Lime Technology has reported a turnover of £111.3m for 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The total is up significantly from the £63.5m it achieved in 2023. However, the latest [...]
The Debate: Lime – a friend or foe to Londoners? September 24, 2025 City AM's Debate column asks the hard questions. Today, are Lime bikes a friend or foe to Londoners. Hear what two impassioned commuters think.
Bolt vs Lime: Uber rival to launch e-bikes in London June 18, 2025 Bolt has unveiled plans to introduce electric bikes in London this summer, challenging Lime’s near-monopoly in the capital. The Estonian ride-hailer, which is the largest e-scooter and bike provider in Europe, will launch its London service in August under close supervision from Transport for London (TfL) and local councils. The move makes Bolt the first [...]
Branson-backed bike sharing firm Beryl more than doubles losses April 24, 2025 Losses at Beryl, a bike sharing company backed by two of Sir Richard Branson’s children, have more than doubled despite an uptick in its turnover. In accounts filed almost four months late with Companies House, the business has posted a pre-tax loss of £7.5m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2024. That total compares [...]
Skarper: Sir Chris Hoy-backed start-up surges in value March 19, 2025 A start-up backed by Sir Chris Hoy surged in value by almost £2m ahead of securing a major funding boost, it has been revealed. Mobility technology company Skarper was founded in 2020 by Alastair Darwood and collaborates with Formula One team Oracle Red Bull Racing. The business patented a lightweight, portable drive system which connects [...]
City of London seizes dockless e-bikes in Lime and Forest crackdown February 10, 2025 The City of London Corporation has seized more than a hundred dockless e-bikes as part of a crackdown against operators’ Lime and Forest. The Square Mile’s local authority said it had confiscated bikes that were found to have obstructed or caused immediate danger to others, over a two-week enforcement period. The bikes were stored in [...]
London e-bike battle heats up as Forest strikes partnership to take on Lime December 12, 2024 Forest is looking to claw back market share from its larger London rival Lime, which is the only other e-bike operator in the capital.