A south west London resident has launched a petition demanding Hounslow Council reinstate Lime's licence in the borough after finding competitor e-bike companies less safe and less practical.

Fred Barton, from Chiswick, used to commute to work using Lime bikes before Hounslow Council appointed Forest and Voi as the borough's exclusive e-bike providers.

The Sales Director argues that the change has been "incredibly inconvenient" and "frustrating" for users in the borough, as the availability of the new e-bikes is limited.

Barton told Nub News: "I can get a Forest bike relatively easily when I go to work. But the problem is that trying to get one on the way back is really difficult.

"Where I am in Victoria, there are far fewer workable Forest bikes than there are Lime Bikes meaning it takes a lot longer to get home."

The petition, which at the time of writing has gathered 653 signatures, also states that the quality of Forest and Voi "leaves much to be desired", putting Barton off using them as a regular mode of transport due to safety concerns.

"Forest bikes are not only less comfortable - they're dangerous", explained Barton.

"They often apply the breaks to limit speeds but this can be when you need to move out of the way of an oncoming bus.

"There's a time in the day when a bus was coming towards me, I needed to move out of the way quickly and [the bike] seemed to shut the brakes on."

Hounslow Council appointed Forest and Voi as the borough's e-bike operators on 11 August (credit: Hounslow Council).

The Chiswick resident added: "I just find them very unsettling as an experience, and I think Lime is a far better user experience."

Another issue affecting e-bike users not just in Hounslow but also in Richmond is the geofencing of e-bikes between the two boroughs.

Richmond riders on Lime bikes cannot ride through the neighbouring borough and are forced to end their journey for a Forest or Voi and repeat the switch on the return trip.

Barton said: "It's majorly inconvenient for anybody who happens to live in Richmond.

"You have to go and get three different forms of transportation. You have to get a Lime bike and then a Forest and then cross over and get a Lime."

The lead image of the petition shows a rider on a Lime bike appearing to jump over a barricade at 'Checkpoint Charlie', the name for a crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War.

Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain also recently tweeted that crossing from Hounslow to Richmond on e-bikes feels like the historic landmark, a comparison Barton believes "very accurately" describes the current situation.

Before launching the petition, Barton says he originally reached out to the Council regarding its decision to make Forest and Voi the sole e-bike operators in Hounslow, but received no response. Hounslow Council, however, deny this.

Richmond Council currently have Lime as the e-bike operator for the borough but want to have other brands too (credit: Cesar Medina).

Councillor Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Transport at Hounslow Council, said: "Hounslow Council has awarded contracts to Forest and Voi following a full, transparent and competitive procurement process.

"All bids were evaluated against clear criteria including safety, service quality, resident benefit and affordability.

"Both new operators bring strong offers with stronger parking compliance, faster response times to resident concerns and more tailored and affordable pricing.

"We recognise there is currently a transition period as Lime exits the borough and Forest and Voi expand their fleets.

"We are working closely with both operators to increase the number of e-bikes available.

"Together, they will provide over 1,000 e-bikes across Hounslow and offer bespoke local discounts, such as Forest's £1 for 30 minutes promotion and Voi's £1.75 for 30 mins pass.

"We continue to monitor performance and are also pressing for a pan-London approach, so that e-bike services are simpler and more consistent across the capital."

A Voi Spokesperson commented: "Hounslow selected Voi to deliver an e-bike service that is more affordable, accessible and responsible than the previous scheme.

"Whether it is offering the cheapest 30-minute rides in the capital, introducing lighter bikes to make cycling more inclusive, or sharing live data so council staff can hold us to account, Voi is setting new standards for shared e-bikes in London. 

"We have long been the leading industry voice calling for TfL to move forward with a London-wide approach to micromobility to make cross-borough journeys easier.

"In the meantime, boroughs like Hounslow are entitled to choose a partner they trust to operate in a compliant manner. E-bike providers should respect these decisions and refrain from operating in boroughs without permission."

Alex Berwin, Head of Policy at Forest, said: "We've invested heavily in London over the past four years and are proud to serve riders across 18 boroughs.

"Since launching in Hounslow in August, we've completed over 67,500 rides last month alone - with residents giving us overwhelmingly positive feedback. 

"Safety and reliability are our top priorities. Our bikes are inspected regularly by trained Guardians and monitored 24/7, so residents can be confident they're choosing a safe, sustainable and reliable way to travel. 

"We understand the frustration many people across the capital feel about inconsistent e-bike rules that vary borough by borough.

"It's confusing for riders and holds back the service. It's clear Londoners want more access to shared e-bikes, and we believe a consistent set of rules across the city would ensure every resident benefits from a high-quality, reliable service."

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