London’s e-bike boom accelerates amid Tube strike turmoil

The ongoing Tube strikes in London have spurred a significant surge in e-bike usage, with Lime reporting over 50% increase during peak hours, highlighting shifts in urban commuting patterns and raising questions on regulation and infrastructure management.

Electric bike usage in London has surged significantly amid ongoing London Underground strikes, as commuters seek alternative transport options to bypass the disruption. Lime, a leading operator of rental e-bikes and e-scooters, reported a more than 50% increase in trips during peak travel hours on Monday and Tuesday. Specifically, trips between 7am and 11am jumped by 58% on Monday and 50% on Tuesday compared to the previous week. Additionally, the length and duration of journeys increased, suggesting many commuters relied on Lime bikes for entire commutes rather than just first or last-mile travel.

The strikes, orchestrated by thousands of Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) members, have brought considerable disruption to Tube services across the capital. The rail walkouts stem from disputes over pay, working hours, and shifting patterns and are estimated to have cost the London economy approximately £230 million in direct losses, with further indirect financial impacts anticipated. As a result, many Londoners turned to alternatives such as bikes, buses, and river boats to maintain their routines.

Lime’s UK and Ireland policy director, Hal Stevenson, explained that the data reflects how their e-bikes have plugged gaps left by unavailable public transport. In response, Lime has ramped up operations, with teams on standby to keep vehicles in service through battery replacements and rebalancing efforts. They have also increased foot patrols to manage high-demand areas and ensure availability.

This spike forms part of a broader shift in urban mobility patterns. Recent industry reports highlight that dockless bike-sharing services, including Lime and Forest, have seen major surges in demand during the strikes. Forest, for instance, recorded a tenfold increase in app downloads, while Lime noted nearly a 50% increase in trips. Meanwhile, traditional bike hire usage by Transport for London experienced a decline, contrasting with the rise in Lime’s services, which have grown steadily by around 10% monthly since their launch in London five years ago. Lime’s e-bikes have completed over 12 million trips in the city between 2019 and 2023, focusing deployment on areas with lower public transport accessibility and higher deprivation.

However, the growth of dockless e-bike usage has also brought challenges, particularly related to parking and public space management. The City of London Corporation recently seized over 100 e-bikes from Lime and Forest during a two-week operation aimed at addressing complaints about bikes being left obstructing pavements and creating hazards. Firms were charged approximately £235 per bike for their release, resulting in fines totaling around £25,000. This crackdown underscores ongoing tensions between promoting micromobility solutions and maintaining urban order, renewing calls for London-wide regulations to better manage dockless vehicle numbers and prevent anti-social parking.

The increased reliance on e-bikes during transport strikes demonstrates their growing role in London’s transport ecosystem, allowing commuters to adapt quickly to service disruptions. Nevertheless, balancing this mobility option with effective management remains an important consideration for city authorities and operators alike.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative is current, reporting on events from September 8 to 10, 2025. Similar reports from Reuters and the Financial Times were published on September 9, 2025, indicating concurrent coverage. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/london-commuters-turn-bikes-boats-tube-strike-enters-second-day-2025-09-09/?utm_source=openai)) The Irish News article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
8

Notes:
Direct quotes from Hal Stevenson, Lime’s UK and Ireland director of policy, are present. Similar quotes appear in the Reuters and Financial Times articles, suggesting potential reuse. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/london-commuters-turn-bikes-boats-tube-strike-enters-second-day-2025-09-09/?utm_source=openai)) Variations in wording across sources may indicate paraphrasing.

Source reliability

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable UK publication. However, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims about increased e-bike usage during the Tube strikes are plausible and corroborated by multiple reputable sources. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact dates and figures, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The tone and language are consistent with typical reporting on such events.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative reports on increased e-bike usage during London Underground strikes, a claim corroborated by multiple reputable sources. However, the article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Direct quotes from Hal Stevenson appear in other sources, suggesting potential reuse. The lack of specific factual anchors and the inclusion of recycled material raise concerns about the narrative’s originality and freshness.