Lewisham is considering expanding its dockless bike network with the addition of two new operators, Forest and Bolt, potentially offering residents more choices for active travel. The council expects that the addition of new operators will provide greater choice and options to users in Lewisham.

The Sustainable Development Select Committee met on Thursday to discuss the proposal, noting that Lime is currently the only provider operating in the borough with 1,500 dockless bikes. According to the meeting minutes, Lime operates under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lewisham Council. The council is working to update its MoU with Lime. The individual memorandum of understandings are done on a spokes or borough by borough basis, D'Archambaud said.

Key metrics around Lime usage in 2025 include a parking compliance rate of 98.63%, an average trip distance of 2.2 km, and an average trip duration of 9.5 minutes. Trips have increased 8.11% year on year from 2024.

Matthew D'Archambaud, Head of Strategic Transport and Highways, explained that the council is in discussions with Forest and Bolt about joining the network.

One key aspect of managing dockless bikes is geofencing, which creates virtual boundaries where bikes can be used and parked. Designated parking bays are also being introduced in phases across Lewisham to reduce obstructive parking. The locations were identified considering factors such as road safety, expected levels of demand, network density considerations and impact on residents. The phased introduction is as follows:

  • Phase 1 (Winter 2023): Evelyn, Deptford, New Cross Gate, Telegraph Hill, Brockley
  • Phase 2 (Spring 2024): Blackheath, Lewisham Central, Ladywell, Crofton Park, Forest Hill
  • Phase 3 (Autumn 2025): Sydenham, Downham, Perry Vale, Catford South, Bellingham
  • Phase 4 (Winter 2025): Rushey Green, Hither Green, Lee Green, Grove Park

Councillor Liam Curran, Chair of the Committee, raised concerns about abandoned bikes. He asked, When are we going to see this difference? referring to the issue of bikes littering pavements. D'Archambaud responded that the council is working to address this issue, including penalties for operators if bikes are left in inappropriate locations. These penalties include the operator being charged for the return of the bikes. Enforcement involves a dedicated dockless bike retrieval unit collecting offending bikes, which are then stored and potentially destroyed, with all costs borne by the relevant dockless bike provider.

Hal Stevenson from Lime stated that Lime is retrofitting bikes with locking mechanisms to prevent unauthorised use, which often leads to bikes being abandoned. Stevenson also highlighted Lime's willingness to fund additional parking bays. We can provide all of the funding you need to get those bays in place, he said.

Councillor Mark Ingleby, the borough's cycling champion, inquired about the possibility of setting stricter requirements for new operators regarding the pace of bay creation. He also suggested distance-based charging to discourage reckless riding. D'Archambaud responded that the council is considering these factors in its discussions with potential new operators.

Councillor James Royston emphasised the importance of dockless bikes for active travel. He asked about the levels of clear-up and whether problems persist in areas with existing bays. D'Archambaud acknowledged that while the system is improving, challenges remain.

Councillor Tauseef Anwar raised concerns about the accuracy of parking compliance data provided by operators. Lime provides monthly performance metrics to officers covering a range of data points, including the number of locations tidied per day, the number of bike relocation tasks completed, and the number of complaints received. The council verifies the accuracy of this data by meeting with Lime representatives to interrogate this performance data, specific issues in terms of Dockless Bike performance in the Borough and develop joint communications and publicity campaigns over their Dockless Bike service. The council also uses casework from councillors and direct reports to challenge Lime over the information.

D'Archambaud assured the committee that the council would continue to monitor and challenge this data.

The committee agreed to invite Lime to a future Public Transport Liaison Forum meeting and requested more detailed statistics in future reports. They also agreed to revisit the topic in the new year to monitor progress.