The phased withdrawal of Lime bikes from Richmond borough is now officially underway.with the borough's changeover to Forest starting today (Friday, 26 June).

This transition follows the council's decision, made earlier this year, to appoint Forest as Richmond's sole e-bike operator in a £3million deal.

Since Tuesday (23) Lime has restricted parking in Richmond upon Thames, preventing users from ending journeys within the borough.

From 12.01am today (Friday, 26 June), riders are no longer able to start journeys on Lime bikes in the borough. This marks the final stage of the transition to Forest as the sole e-bike operator in Richmond upon Thames.

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council and Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, said: "This Council has worked hard with both Forest and Lime to ensure an orderly and well-executed transition, with residents already taking advantage of the new service.

"This change is about supporting and growing this key active travel service for residents – with better value, improved compliance and a service that works seamlessly across borough boundaries."

According to 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.

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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 asks that residents report any Lime bikes by completing a request on the Lime website here.

Forest already operates across all of Richmond's neighbouring boroughs, helping to create a connected network across South West London, which allows riders to travel easily without worrying about borough boundaries.

To encourage residents to try the new service, Forest is offering a range of exclusive deals to Richmond residents, including:

• Up to 30 minutes of riding for £1 on journeys starting in Richmond throughout June
• An exclusive local offer of 400 minutes for £13.99 per month (equivalent to just 3.5p per minute)

Since starting Forest's service, Hounslow is the most popular destination for journeys from Richmond, while Hammersmith and Fulham is the most common starting point for trips into the borough.

Councillor Ehmann added: "I'd also like to thank Lime for their five years of service in the borough and for their support in ensuring an orderly transition."

Richmond Council says that "Forest and Lime have been working closely with the Council to ensure a smooth handover, with Lime bikes gradually being removed from the borough as Forest's service continues to expand".

Residents can visit the authority's dedicated page to find out more about Forest bikes and download the Forest app to access bikes, view pricing and take advantage of the latest offers.

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