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Good news for Hackney locals who love a two-wheeled commute: the east London borough has just struck a deal with e-bike operators Lime and Voi to make cycling around a whole lot cheaper.
Hackney residents will pay a flat fee of just £1.75 to use rental e-bikes within the borough – the same price as hopping on a London bus. That means pedalling from Dalston to Clapton or Hackney Wick to Stoke Newington will cost less than an average coffee in the capital. It’s also a significant drop from Lime’s usual prices in London - currently it’s £6.99 for a 60-minute pass.
It's not clear when the lower rate will come into effect, but according to London Centric, it’ll be soon. Plus, under the deal, Lime and Voi will share a slice of the revenue with Hackney Council, meaning the money gets pumped back into the borough.
A spokesperson for Lime told London Centric: ‘We’re thrilled to continue working with Hackney Council to offer its residents an accessible, affordable service.’
Meanwhile, Harry Foskin, Voi’s UK public policy manager, said: ‘Our flat fare applies to Hackney residents, costing £1.75, matching bus fares. We offer a wide range of concessions which non-residents travelling in the borough can take advantage of, including day, week, and month passes and our equitable access programme.’
While Hackney is making bike hire cheaper and more appealing, things have gone the other way out west. Back in August, Hounslow decided to outlaw Lime altogether after complaints that the green e-bikes were cluttering pavements and blocking wheelchair users. Instead, the borough handed contracts to rivals Forest and Voi.
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