Forest, London’s homegrown e-bike operator, today officially launches its operations in the London Borough of Richmond, becoming the borough’s sole e-bike provider.
Forest’s presence in Richmond reaffirms its position as the Capital’s fastest-growing shared e-bike operator, operating in 19 boroughs and serving over 1.5 million customers across London. It also strengthens its presence in south-west London, where it is the only company to offer a fully continuous operating area across Kingston, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Sutton, and Wandsworth.
Forest will roll out 1,500 bikes across Richmond. This follows a competitive tender process, which concluded in March, in which Forest was the highest scoring operator.
To mark the launch, during June, Forest riders can redeem 30 ride minutes for £1 for every ride that starts in Richmond. Forest is also offering an exclusive £13.99 a month bundle for 400 minutes for Richmond residents, making rides just 3.5p per minute.
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This launch comes as Forest continues to enhance its wider service across London, recently launching a new subscription model – ForestFlex. Priced at £6.99 a month, ForestFlex gives riders access to 10-minute rides for £1 and up to 30 minutes of riding for £1.70, with any additional time beyond 30 minutes charged at Forest’s standard pay-as-you-go rate of £0.33 per minute.
As part of their operations in Richmond, Forest will work closely with the council to review performance, share data and insights, and explore opportunities to enhance the service, ensuring the long-term success of shared e-bikes in the borough.
Forest is the only London-based operator with zero emissions, powering all bikes and service vehicles with zero-carbon energy.
Aguistin Guilisasti, Founder and CEO of Forest, said: “We are excited to officially launch as the sole e-bike operator in Richmond, one of the most popular locations for cycling in London.
“Since we started Forest in 2021, it’s been amazing to see the growing demand for e-bikes in London, and this is an exciting next step as we continue to expand our presence across the Capital.
“To mark this milestone, we’re delighted to be offering users in Richmond exclusive pricing, to make cycling even more accessible and affordable as we enter the warmer summer months.”
Councillor Alexander Ehmann, Deputy Leader of Richmond Council and Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee, said:
“Residents were clear: they wanted better value, better management and more bikes available when and where they need them. We listened and acted.”
“From today, Richmond residents can see the difference for themselves. Forest offers some of the most affordable e-bike hire in London, with £1 introductory rides, free minutes for short journeys and improved parking arrangements that support both riders and local communities.”
“This is about giving people genuine transport choice. Every journey made by bike instead of by car helps reduce congestion, improve air quality and make our streets healthier and more enjoyable places to be.”
“We are not standing still. We want more people than ever choosing active travel, and Forest gives us a strong platform to continue growing cycling across the borough.”