Key Points
- Forest e-bikes expanded into Ealing on 30 July 2026, deploying 900 bikes across the West London borough.
- Pay-as-you-go rides starting in Ealing are priced at £1 until 31 August 2026.
- The expansion brings Forest’s network to 20 London boroughs, creating the largest continuous dockless e-bike area in the capital.
- Seamless travel is now available between Ealing and neighbouring boroughs Brent, Hounslow, and Hammersmith & Fulham.
- Forest plans to extend its Friends of the Forest discount scheme to Ealing later in 2026, offering 50% off rides to eligible groups including low-income users, key workers, NHS staff, students, people with disabilities, carers and those over 60.
- The company has pledged to crack down on riders who break rules, including improper parking or unsafe riding.
- Ealing is served by three dockless e-bike operators: Lime, Forest and Voi.
Ealing (West London News) August 4, 2026 – Ealing has become the latest London borough to welcome Forest e-bikes, with the operator rolling out 900 dockless electric bikes across the area from 30 July 2026. The launch marks Forest’s entry into its 20th London borough and extends its network to cover the largest continuous area of any e-bike operator in the capital. To encourage uptake, Forest is offering pay-as-you-go rides that start in Ealing for just £1 until 31 August 2026.
Forest said it will crack down on riders who break the rules, including those who park improperly or ride unsafely. The company now has access to seamless travel between Ealing and its neighbouring boroughs of Brent, Hounslow, and fulham/hammersmith/">Hammersmith & Fulham, making it the only dockless e-bike operator able to offer continuous service across this stretch of West London.
How does Forest’s expansion affect London’s e-bike landscape?
Forest’s move into Ealing consolidates its position as one of the main dockless e-bike providers in London, joining Lime and Voi as authorised operators in the borough. Ealing now has three dockless e-bike schemes operating within its boundaries, with Forest joining Lime and Voi in serving residents and commuters.
Forest has been expanding rapidly across London, having previously entered boroughs such as Richmond upon Thames, Lambeth and Lewisham in early 2026. The company’s warehouse facility on Hythe Road in Hammersmith & Fulham, bordering Ealing, supports its operational efficiency across the area.
What discounts are available through Friends of the Forest?
Forest has pledged to expand its Friends of the Forest scheme to Ealing later in 2026, offering 50% off pay-as-you-go journeys to eligible groups. The Friends of the Forest programme is designed for students, NHS workers, emergency service workers, key workers, people with disabilities or carers, those over 60 and low-income users.
Under the scheme, eligible riders pay 17p per minute instead of the standard rate, making daily commutes and errands more affordable. The company has said it will roll out the discount to Ealing residents “over time”, aligning with its wider commitment to accessible and sustainable transport.
What rules must Forest e-bike riders follow?
Forest has stated it will enforce rules around proper parking and safe riding, with penalties for users who breach them. The operator warned it would crack down on riders who break the rules, reflecting broader concerns about antisocial parking and unsafe use of dockless e-bikes in London.
Ealing Council has previously expanded the areas where e-bikes can be used across the borough, with rental e-bikes now permitted borough-wide. Riders must use the operator’s app to rent bikes and follow local guidance on parking and road use.
Background
Forest’s expansion into Ealing follows a period of rapid growth for the London-based operator. In April 2026, Forest announced a £40 million Series B funding round, backed in part by e-bike manufacturer OKAI, as it sought to scale its operations across the capital. By early 2026, the company reported 1.5 million users and two million rides per month across 18 boroughs.
The operator has faced some regulatory friction in Ealing. In February 2026, Ealing Council instructed Forest to withdraw from parts of the borough after it had been operating without a formal memorandum of understanding, reducing the number of shared bikes available to residents. Only Lime and Voi remained authorised at that point, but Forest’s renewed entry in July 2026 restores its presence in the area.
Ealing has been a focal point for micromobility trials, with Voi launching an e-bike scheme in May 2025 and FREENOW integrating Voi e-bikes into its app in July 2025. Lime has also offered dockless e-bikes in parts of Ealing, with free training sessions provided through Bikeworks.
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Prediction: How might this development affect Ealing residents and commuters?
Forest’s expansion is likely to increase the availability of affordable, short-distance transport options for Ealing residents, particularly those travelling to neighbouring boroughs such as Hounslow, Brent and Hammersmith & Fulham. The £1 introductory offer until 31 August may encourage trial among price-sensitive users, while the planned extension of Friends of the Forest discounts could make e-bikes a viable option for low-income households, students and key workers later in 2026.
However, the operator’s pledge to crack down on rule-breaking suggests that enforcement of parking and safety rules will remain a priority. If Forest can balance accessibility with compliance, the expansion could support Ealing Council’s wider active travel goals and reduce reliance on cars for short journeys. Conversely, if antisocial parking or unsafe riding increases, local authorities may face pressure to tighten regulations further, as seen in earlier council interventions.
