Cash from Lime and Forest is funding a roll-out of cycle hire parking bays across much of Greenwich borough, which will – officially – bring the bikes to Eltham and Plumstead for the first time.
Greenwich Council announced the plan for 108 new bays last week, building on an initial set of 29 announced in June. Riders can face penalties from the companies if they park outside the bays.
The bays stretch as far south as the boundary with Bromley at Green Lane in Chislehurst, making it likely that the bikes will become officially available across the borough for the first time. At present, they are only meant to be used in an area roughly west of Charlton and Kidbrooke.
Cash from Lime and Forest is funding the bays. Lime and Forest are contributing £30,000 each under the terms of the companies’ deals with the council.
Lime has also given Greenwich an additional £50,000 as part of its London Parking Fund. Lime said last week that it was awarding nearly £900,000 to nine boroughs, including Greenwich, to help fund extra bays. TfL has also given Greenwich £75,000 for parking bays.
Each bay in the last rollout was costed at £565, although it has not been confirmed how much this round of bays will cost, the council told The Greenwich Wire.
The council has also signalled that a third provider will be given the green light to operate in the borough. Greenwich has said it plans to sign a deal with Voi, which operates in Lambeth and Southwark, in the new year.
Even though Voi bikes are not officially meant to be available beyond the boundaries of Southwark, its red bikes are often seen in the north and west of the borough.
Where are the new bays?
A handful of bays are in Greenwich itself while coverage is greatly expanded on the western side of Charlton. There will also be a cluster of bays in and around Eltham town centre, where a new cycle route is planned, with some close to Mottingham, New Eltham and Falconwood stations.
Other bays are planned for Plumstead High Street and Plumstead Common.
However, there is only one bay planned for Woolwich town centre – to add to the single bay to be built under the Sustainable Streets scheme. No additional bays are planned for the Greenwich Peninsula, while only two bays are planned for Thamesmead.
Abbey Wood station is another notable omission, although much of the area surrounding the Elizabeth Line stop is controlled by Bexley, which has no deals with cycle hire companies.
Most bays will be six metres long, but double-length bays are due to come to Passey Place and North Park off Eltham High Street, Eltham Green Road, and Weigall Road in Lee.
Detailed maps are available on the Greenwich Council consultation page, where views are being sought until October 28.
Despite the expansion, Greenwich still has some catching up to do: Southwark is planning to have 350 bays across its borough.
Dockless bikes ‘Wild West’
There are no London-wide rules for cycle hire companies. Last month Sir Sadiq Khan said the government was dragging its heels on new rules which would allow TfL to set new standards, saying he wanted to end a “Wild West” of dockless bikes . For now, it is down to each borough to strike deals with companies.
Lewisham has been gradually introducing cycle hire bays since 2024, and recently said it would expand coverage in Deptford, Lee and Hither Green.
Last week Tower Hamlets, which has no deals with bike companies, said it would start to introduce parking bays. Last month Greenwich’s cabinet member for transport, Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, criticised Lime and Forest for the number of bikes abandoned in Greenwich Foot Tunnel, which is jointly owned with Tower Hamlets.
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