Forest E-bikes Return to Ealing Borough
Company deploying 900 bikes after issues over operation resolved
Forest bikes are already available again across the borough
July 31, 2026
Forest, the e-bike operator, has officially returned to the London Borough of Ealing. From 30 July, the company deployed 900 bikes extending its reach to 20 London boroughs.
To celebrate the launch, Forest is offering pay-as-you-go rides for just £1 for any journey starting in Ealing until the end of August.
The return follows a six-month absence after Ealing Council ordered Forest to suspend operations earlier this year while reviewing compliance and parking arrangements. The new rollout comes under a formal agreement that aligns Forest’s operations with the borough’s designated parking-bay system and data-sharing requirements. It also coincides with the expiry of Ealing’s previous Memoranda of Understanding with Lime and Voi, opening the door for a broader mix of operators.
Forest’s reinstatement means Ealing now joins Brent, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham in a unified operating zone, allowing riders to travel freely across borough boundaries without hitting a geofence cut-off. The company’s 65,000-square-foot warehouse on Hythe Road off Scrubs Lane will support logistics and maintenance, improving bike availability across the borough.
The company claims 1.5 million journeys per year and says its riders now have access to the largest fully continuous area of any e-bike operator in London. The expansion is expected to ease pressure on supply in areas such as Acton, Ealing Broadway and Hanwell , where demand for shared bikes has grown sharply in recent years.
Forest also plans to extend its Friends of the Forest concession scheme to Ealing residents, offering 50 per cent off pay-as-you-go rides for low-income users, key workers, NHS staff, people with disabilities or carers, students and those aged over 60. The discount brings the cost down to £0.17 per minute, making e-bike travel more accessible to a wider range of residents.
As part of its borough-wide operations, Forest will launch a new safety initiative called Forest Force, deploying staff to monitor high-risk locations known for red-light jumping and pavement riding. The team will stop and penalise riders who breach the rules, working with Ealing Council and Ealing Cycling to identify priority junctions.
Alex Berwin, Head of Policy at Forest, said the expansion marks “another important milestone” for the company. “Operating across 20 boroughs, we’re now able to offer the largest continuous network in London, making journeys across the capital even more seamless,” he said. “Our ambition has always been to offer convenient, reliable and affordable ways to get around London. We are looking forward to working with Ealing Council to deliver a service that not only residents can rely on, but works for everyone in the local community.”
Forest’s return follows a turbulent period for micromobility in Ealing. Earlier this year, the council enforced new rules requiring all operators to hold formal agreements and comply with designated parking zones. Forest, which had expanded into eastern Ealing without an MoU, was ordered to withdraw its fleet in February. The borough’s enforcement pilot ran until August, paving the way for new contracts and the re-entry of compliant operators.
The reinstatement of Forest’s service restores borough-wide coverage and strengthens Ealing’s position within London’s growing micromobility network. It also helps address the wider issue of fragmented borough boundaries that have previously disrupted cross-border journeys.
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