IN BRIEF
Bike-share operator Lime is opening a new pot of one million pounds to help London boroughs create parking bays. Applications are open until 22 October. Lime says it has already awarded £886,857 to nine boroughs, for 586 bays created or improved this year. The operator states that these bays can be used by bikes from all operators, competitors included.
To relieve overcrowded parking areas and tackle badly parked bikes, Lime is announcing a further million pounds for boroughs in the British capital, as part of its London Parking Infrastructure Fund.
A Lime parking fund open to all operators
Boroughs can apply for funding for local parking improvement projects until 22 October. Lime has already awarded £886,857 to nine of them, including Greenwich, Lambeth and Hackney, for 586 e-bike parking bays created or improved this year. Cycling Industry News notes that most first received funding to design and plan their projects, with the remainder paid out as the bays are built.
Lime states that bays delivered through its fund can be used by all rental e-bike operators in the capital. City AM names its competitors Forest and Voi. Lime claims to have helped fund more than 3,400 bays in the capital, more than any other operator.
A response to complaints about badly parked bikes
City AM presents this new round as a response to one of the biggest complaints raised by the rapid rise of rental bikes in London. “More people than ever are choosing shared e-bikes to get around London”, says Alice Pleasant, Lime’s deputy regional head of government relations, quoted by City AM. Speaking to Cycling Industry News, she says she is encouraged by the uptake from boroughs: “With the next round now open, we’re encouraging councils to take advantage of the fund and submit their applications.”
This £5 million fund is part of Lime’s London action plan, a £20 million commitment. Lime puts its investment in London parking at around £1.5 million for 2026, once the projects from the first tranche are completed.
