Hounslow E-Bike Scheme: Ride Your Way!
A trial of dockless electric bikes (e-bikes) has been rolled out across the borough in partnership with the operator Lime. The Council has created a network of over 260 dedicated e-bike parking bays, meaning you can rent an e-bike close to wherever you are. In most parts of Hounslow, you won’t be more than a 3-minute walk away from a parking bay, and they’re even closer together in Town Centres and other high demand areas.
There are a range of pricing options, from a single ride to discounted ride passes, to suit different travel needs and budgets. Lime also offers 50% off the cost of e-bike rides for eligible riders via its Lime Access programme (see below for details).
Whether you are connecting to public transport for longer journeys, off to the shops or exploring Hounslow’s open spaces, the e-bike rental scheme can help you to get where you’re going in a healthy and green way.
And because these bikes are powered by electricity, you can use them to give you a boost, take the strain out of cycling and take hills in your stride.
Over the next few pages, we will explain the e-bike hire scheme in more detail, giving you all the information you need to get up and riding.
Why Choose E-bike Rental?
Here are some of the main reasons why people who live, work and study in Hounslow are choosing to use the e-bike hire scheme:
- Green for Go: Cut your carbon and help to make Hounslow a cleaner, healthier place.
- Money Matters: You could save money on transport costs with the affordable passes and Access programme.
- There when you need them: Multiple pick-up and drop-off locations across Hounslow for easy access, providing more travel choices to connect from home to daily destinations.
- Healthy Hounslow: Enjoy light exercise while you travel, perfect for improving your fitness.
- Ride more, stress less: Cycling is easier, more accessible, and more fun thanks to the electric pedal assist, which lets more people ride for longer distances. And with bike share, you don’t need to own your own bike or worry about bike theft.
How Does It Work?
To get started, you need to download the Lime app to your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play. Users must be 18 years and over.
The rest is easy:
1) Find a Bike: The Lime app allows users to find the nearest e-bike. You can reserve a bike for free for up to 10 minutes, or you can simply walk up to an available bike and scan the QR code using the Lime app to begin your rental.
2) Choose how to pay: You can pay by the minute or save money by purchasing a LimePass in advance. On a pay per minute basis, the e-bikes cost £1 to unlock and 29p per minute to use. Lime also offers in-app ride passes that offer savings for anyone taking frequent or longer rides. These flexible passes offer £0 unlock fees and can be used over multiple journeys within a set time period:
|
Pass Length |
Pass Valid For |
Pass Price |
Rate per minute |
Savings compared to pay per minute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
30 mins |
24 hours |
£3.99 |
£0.13 |
Save 55% |
|
60 mins |
3 days |
£6.99 |
£0.10 |
Save 60% |
|
200 mins |
7 days |
£18.99 |
£0.09 |
Save 67% |
|
400 mins |
30 days |
£36.99 |
£0.09 |
Save 68% |
Lime also offers 50% off the cost of e-bike rides for eligible residents via its Lime Access programme. To qualify for Lime Access, you need to provide evidence of being a concession pass holder, key worker, or student. Sign up to Lime Access and read more information on eligibility here.
3) Ride and Enjoy. Hop on, be safe and enjoy your ride. The e-bikes are perfect for both short trips and longer journeys around Hounslow or connecting to public transport for longer journeys.
4) Return the Bike. At the end of your journey, return the e-bike to any of our designated parking bays and end the trip using the Lime app. It's that simple!
Parking Properly
All e-bike trips in Hounslow must end in a designated parking bay. Proper parking is enforced with GPS technology in the e-bikes. The parking bays are marked with a blue P icon in the Lime app (they are visible during active trips and when you click on a bike). The bays are also marked on the roadway or pavement with the words ‘CYCLE HIRE ONLY’.
Please note that users who choose to abandon their e-bike outside of a parking bay in Hounslow will be warned and fined by the operator. Repeat occurrences will result in the user being banned from the scheme.
E-bike parking rules are different in every borough. When ending your trip outside of Hounslow, please follow the parking instructions on the app. Click here for more information about Lime bike parking across London.
Reporting E-Bike Issues
If you notice an e-bike that has been left outside of a parking bay, you can report this to Lime. They will relocate the bike into a nearby bay and take action to fine the scheme user who has abandoned it. You can also report vandalized/damaged bikes, issues with the Lime app, and any other operational issues.
Issues can be reported through the Lime app or by contacting Lime at london-ops@li.me. For any urgent or after-hours queries, you can phone 0800 808 5223 or email support@li.me, which is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Residents can also use Fix My Street (online at https://fms.hounslowhighways.org/ or via a mobile application available on iOS and Android) to report Lime bike issues. Reports received by the Council are sent directly to Lime for their attention and action.
