The City of London Corporation has agreed a strengthened memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three dockless e‑bike operators that will see larger financial contributions, new enforcement targets and penalties of up to £10,000 for repeated breaches.
What the new deal requires
The revised MoU, considered by the Corporation’s Streets and Walkways Sub‑Committee, brings the operators Lime, Forest and Voi into a single agreement with tighter controls on how they run services inside the Square Mile. The changes respond to a rapid expansion in dockless bikes: the number of dockless cycles counted in summer 2025 was reported to be five times higher than two years earlier.
- Increased financial contributions from operators, expected to generate around £455,360 per year for the Corporation.
- New penalty regime for poor parking compliance and other failures; fines can reach up to £10,000 where requirements are repeatedly ignored.
- Standards on parking allocation, enforcement activity, affordability and data sharing.
- An expectation that operators will support campaigns to promote safety and courtesy among riders.
How penalties will apply
The MoU sets out a framework in which operators may be held liable if their enforcement activity falls substantially short of expected levels. One example set out by the authority is where there is a difference of 25 per cent or more between actual and expected enforcement action for user parking non‑compliance. Repeated failures of that nature could ultimately trigger the maximum penalty.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operators covered | Lime, Forest, Voi |
| Expected annual contributions | £455,360 |
| Maximum penalty for repeated breaches | £10,000 |
Why the Corporation moved now
The Corporation first signed agreements with Lime and Forest last summer to formalise existing practices, including payments for the use of parking bays. The revised MoU extends that approach to include Voi and introduces stricter compliance measures after complaints about abandoned bikes and inconsiderate parking grew alongside the rapid rise in fleet numbers.
"We are very good"
Members of the sub‑committee requested operators do more to promote safety and courteous riding through public campaigns and partnership activity. The MoU also includes requirements on data sharing that will help the Corporation monitor the scheme and its effects on streets and pavements.
For residents and businesses, the agreement is intended to strike a balance: preserve the availability of affordable, active travel while reducing the nuisance and hazards caused by dumped or poorly parked vehicles. For operators, the measures mean higher running costs and clearer standards for day‑to‑day management, enforcement and reporting.
Officers will monitor compliance with the new terms and report back to the sub‑committee as the MoU is implemented. The Corporation retains the option to escalate action should enforcement and other expectations not be met.
