London borough pens parking agreement with e-bike firms

The agreement will see Lime, Voi and Forest operate in the London borough under a shared framework that also includes provisions capping the cost of a 20-minute journey at £1.75.

The agreement comes amid a surge in e-bike usage in the borough, with 8.2 million trips made in 2025. According to Southwark, e-bike use has grown by 356% over the past two years.

The three operators have also committed to funding more enforcement and dedicated reporting channels for residents, so that e-bikes left on pavements can be quickly removed.

Other provisions include measures to tackle issues such as night-time alarm noise, ensuring that e-bike alarms do not cause disturbance during overnight hours, the council said.

The agreement also includes plans for monthly rider training sessions, helping new users to ride safely, confidently and responsibly on London’s roads.

The Leader of Southwark Council, Cllr James McAsh, said: “E-bikes are a vital and accessible mode of transport, helping people get around our city quickly and cleanly, reducing emissions and supporting healthier lifestyles. This new agreement sets out a sustainable and responsible way to make e-bikes available to everyone.

“We’ll monitor the agreement and make sure the deal works for people in Southwark. It’s vital that people in our borough benefit from e-bikes and also have protections in place to make sure they are used properly.”

The growth of e-bike services in the capital and their use has seen some other councils launch enforcement action, with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea stating in June that it had removed more than 2,500 dangerously parked bikes from its streets since 2025.

The royal borough said the crackdown action had also seen the council hand out more than £210,000 in fees to e-bike firms to date.

Adam Carey