Here is a full breakdown of how much Lime and Voi bikes will cost going forward
Renting an e-bike in Hackney will cost the same as taking the bus after a £93million deal between the council and two dockless bike providers. This week Hackney Council announced an exclusive agreement with industry-leader Lime and Voi, a much smaller firm, meaning anyone riding a Forest bike, London’s second largest provider, will not be able to park it in the borough.
In August, Hounslow Council struck a similar deal, banning Lime in favour of Forest with ‘geo-fencing’ restrictions that switch off the motor as soon as a bike crosses the border. This has created a ‘Checkpoint Charlie’ situation, with reports of bikes building up around Kew Bridge and Chiswick Bridge as riders abandon them en-masse.
To avoid this, Hackney have allowed Forest bikes to stay switched on by not requiring the same ‘geo-fenced’ restrictions as Hounslow. Forest bikes can be hired in Haringey, Islington and Tower Hamlets, all of which have borders with Hackney. The introduction of Voi and the expansion of Lime comes after 2.5million dockless e-bike trips ended in the borough this summer.
So how much will it cost?
Here’s a rundown of how much it will cost, and how this compares to other boroughs:
- Lime currently charges a £1 unlock fee plus a rate of around 29p per minute, depending on the area. That works out at £3.90 for a 10-minute journey, £5.35 for 15-minutes, and £9.70 for 30-minutes.
- Lime already offers a 30-minute day pass for £3.99, but the deal with Hackney will see the introduction of a £45-monthly Lime+ pass which caps every ride at £1, the equivalent of £3.60 a day (assuming two trips a day for 28 days).
- Lower-income residents and key workers can also get a 70 per cent discount through Lime Access.
- The biggest saver will come from Voi, who are offering 30-minute rides capped at £1.75 (the same as a London bus).
- Forest recently increased their day fee to £1.50 plus a £1 unlock fee. But unlike Lime, the first 10-minutes of rides are free. With a 29p per minute rate, this means a 30-minute ride works out at £8.30 (£1.40 cheaper than Lime).
- Forest offers a 1,800 minutes-a-month subscription for £70. That works out at 60 30-minute rides a month, at £1.17-a-ride.
‘We’re supporting more people to take up cycling’
Cllr Sarah Young, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “By making e-bike hire the same cost as a bus fare, we’re supporting more people to take up cycling, while also introducing tougher measures to ensure bikes are parked responsibly and our streets remain safe and accessible.”
Lime say they have increased dedicated e-bike parking across London by 40 per cent this year, with more parking planned for Hackney in the next few months. Voi also says it is committed to ‘growing responsibly’ while ‘reducing street clutter and improving parking standards’.
Alice Pleasant, Senior Public Affairs Manager at Lime, said “Being in Hackney for the past five years has been a privilege. The borough has an incredibly vibrant cycling community, and we’ve seen the council’s investments in infrastructure go a long way to create a safer, more connected network for everyone over the past few years.
“We’ve also been collaborating with the council to invest in infrastructure ourselves. This year, we’ve increased dedicated e-bike parking across London by 40%, with more new parking planned for Hackney in the next few months.”
Harry Foskin, Voi’s UK Public Policy Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be launching e-bikes in Hackney, a borough at the forefront of active travel in London.
“Our responsible, collaborative, and transparent approach to shared e-bikes has proven popular with London boroughs, demonstrating that it’s possible to deliver a high-quality service while reducing street clutter and improving parking standards.
“Our launch in Hackney marks a significant milestone: Voi is now an established player in London’s e-bike market. As we enter this new phase, we remain committed to growing responsibly in the capital – offering even more Londoners the opportunity to travel affordably, sustainably, and safely.”
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