Kingston Council has awarded contracts for its e-bike hire service to two suppliers, marking a significant step towards promoting active travel and greener transport options within the borough. The decision was made by the Place Committee at a meeting held on Thursday, June 4, 2026. The two suppliers awarded the contracts are referred to as Supplier A and Supplier B, with their specific names detailed in the EXEMPT Annex 1 of the report.
The new concession contracts, each for a period of three years with a potential two-year extension, are valued at an estimated £3.94 million per supplier over the full five years. This move aims to transition the service to a revenue-generating model that could contribute to the council's Highways revenue budget. The overall value of each contract is estimated at £3.94 million across the full 5-year period. Based on current ride volume data, approximately £55,000 in total income (both suppliers combined) is expected to be generated in the first year of the contract per borough, rising to approximately £90,000 per year per borough if the fleet size doubles as anticipated.
The procurement process, conducted under the Procurement Act 2023, saw an evaluation of bids based on quality (80%) and price (20%). The quality aspect focused on the ability of bidders to meet the council's strategic goals and operational requirements, with key criteria including managing risky behaviours by e-bike users, managing inconsiderate parking, parking location identification, user charging structure, and social value.
The new contracts will see an initial deployment of 150 to 250 e-bikes per operator, per borough. Officers expect deployments to be at or near the maximum capacity from day one of the new contract, which begins on 6 September 2026. Formal annual reviews will be conducted to ensure sustainable expansion, contingent on the timely implementation of dedicated on-street e-bike parking bays.
Crucially, the contracts require no direct funding from the boroughs, with suppliers expected to generate income through user fees and administration fees. The successful bidders are required to pay each participating borough a flat, non-index linked, non-refundable annual administration fee of £10,000. The winning bidders have also offered financial contributions to assist the delivery of on-street e-bike parking bays, in addition to funding offered by Transport for London. The timely implementation of these bays is recognized as being directly contingent upon successful fleet expansion.
The council has also addressed potential concerns regarding inconsiderately parked e-bikes through 11 mitigation measures outlined in the Equalities Impact Assessment. These measures cover technological aspects, service level agreements, user penalties, and the rollout of mandatory on-carriageway bays in busy areas. The main potential negative impact identified in the Equalities Impact Assessment is inconsiderately parked e-bikes creating obstructions, particularly for visually impaired individuals and those using mobility aids. The transition to a revenue-generating contract aims to support the Highways revenue budget.
The current contract with Human Forest Ltd was set to expire on September 5, 2026, making this decision timely to ensure a seamless continuation of the e-bike hire service.
