E-bike users in Hackney can now access London’s lowest fees for Lime bike journeys, following an agreement between Hackney Council and Lime.
The flat fee discount reduces the cost of a pay-as-you-go 25-minute Lime bike ride from £8.75 to £1.75, making it one of the most affordable transport options in London. After 25 minutes, the ride fare returns to 31p per minute.
“We’re making cycling easier and cheaper than ever,” said Councillor Sarah Young, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment, and Transport.
“With this flat fee, which is no more expensive than the bus, we’re helping more residents choose cycling for local journeys.”
To access the discounted rate, residents must sign up online and provide proof of a Hackney address. Once verified, the discount will be automatically linked to the user’s Lime account.
Hackney residents already have access to £1.75 journeys for up to 30 minutes with Voi, via the Voi4Hackney pass that was made available last year. After 30 minutes, the ride fare reverts to 20p per minute.
Alongside these discounted rates, Hackney Council is working with the e-bike operators to enforce parking compliance. Riders will only be permitted to leave their bikes in designated parking bays, 400 of which will be built by the end of the year.
“As we head into spring and summer, dockless bike rides will only become more popular,” said Cllr Young.
“We’ve put strict measures in place to ensure bikes are used and parked responsibly, and we’ll continue holding operators to account.”
