Overview
- Council officers have recommended awarding Forest a sole-operator, three‑year contract starting this summer, to be considered by councillors on 16 March.
- If approved, Lime would be unable to hire or park bikes in Richmond, though a two‑operator alternative remains an option for members.
- Council documents show Lime narrowly led on quality, but Forest won on price, which includes user fares and a concession fee to the council weighted at 25%.
- Richmond recorded more than 1.5 million Lime journeys in 2025, even as papers note the current 500‑bike cap has been exceeded in practice.
- The move would mirror Hounslow’s switch that produced geofencing and abandoned bikes at borders, while TfL’s push for Londonwide rules is unlikely to take effect for more than a year.