Lime Bike Resumes Ride-through Access in Hounslow
Users of the service will still not be able to park in the borough
Large numbers of Lime bikes are deposited on Acton Green which is in Ealing borough
October 18, 2025
Lime has notified users that it can once again ride its bikes through the London Borough of Hounslow. The company says it has sent an update to all users of the app on Thursday (16 October).
This enables riders to pass through the borough but not park, so only helps those with an ultimate destination outside the borough.
The move was made by Lime without any new agreement with Hounslow Council which originally stipulated the 'no go zone' which led to the bikes powering down.
Lime’s message to its customers states, “You can now ride through Hounslow! We've listened to your feedback—and we've got good news. You can now ride Lime bikes through parts of Hounslow, including Brentford and Chiswick, making it easier to connect across London.
“Please note, in line with council regulations, trips can't end in Hounslow and bikes must not be parked there. Riders who park in these areas may receive a fine.”
Last month, Hounslow Council said that it was working towards a 'mutually acceptable solution' about the operation of Lime bikes in the borough.
The latest update follows months of frustration among users and residents after Lime bikes were abruptly disabled at the borough boundary, particularly at Chiswick Bridge, where the transition into Richmond became a flashpoint. Comedian and Chiswick resident Dara Ó Briain famously likened the crossing to “Checkpoint Charlie,” highlighting the experience of bikes cutting out mid-journey.
The issue stems from Hounslow Council’s decision earlier this year to award an exclusive two-year contract to e-bike providers Voi and Forest, effectively banning Lime from operating within the borough. As a result, Lime bikes became unusable upon entering Hounslow, leaving riders stranded and leading to a buildup of abandoned bikes at key border points.
Even now, Lime users remain unable to park within Hounslow, including at designated e-bike bays, which are reserved solely for Voi and Forest. Riders who leave Lime bikes in the borough risk fines, and the company has warned users to plan journeys accordingly.
Cllr Katherine Dunne, Hounslow’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, has defended the switch, citing the financial benefits of the new contracts for the borough. She acknowledged that budgetary pressures were a key factor in the decision and criticised Lime’s previous record on parking compliance and enforcement.
Despite meeting contractual delivery targets, both Voi and Forest have faced poor feedback from regular users who say bike availability is far lower than during Lime’s tenure. Both companies have pledged to increase fleet numbers in the coming months.
A petition to restore Lime bikes' operation fully in the borough has reached over 800 signatures at the time of writing.
Cllr Dunne said following the announcement by Lime, “Hounslow Council has awarded exclusive contracts for shared e-bike services to Forest and Voi following a full and competitive procurement process based on safety, parking compliance, service quality and resident benefit. Lime is no longer a permitted operator in the borough.
“When the new contracts commenced, the Council requested that Lime activate a ‘No Go Zone’ geofencing around Hounslow to prevent Lime e-bikes from entering the borough. This was intended to reduce the risk of abandoned Lime e-bikes. Lime has since chosen to remove this restriction and introduce a ‘ride-through’ zone, allowing users to pass through Hounslow when travelling between neighbouring boroughs. Lime users are still not permitted to start or end trips in Hounslow.
“Hounslow Council have not entered any new agreement with Lime and there have been no amendments to the existing contracts with Forest and Voi.
“Any Lime e-bikes found abandoned in Hounslow are treated as unauthorised and are removed under the Council’s Dockless E-bike Enforcement Procedure, with the costs charged to Lime. There are no additional financial implications for the borough.
“The current situation highlights the urgent need for a pan-London approach to regulating shared e-bike and e-scooter schemes, led by the Department for Transport and implemented by Transport for London, to ensure consistency for riders and councils across London.”
Until pan-London e-bike regulation is introduced—currently not expected before 2027—individual boroughs will continue to negotiate separate deals with providers meaning there is little prospect of a full service from Lime in the borough for the next few years.
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