Distinctive green e-bikes and e-scooters will be available across West Midlands from April 1, 2026.
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has appointed a new provider for e-bikes and e-scooters in local authority areas across the West Midlands. From April 1, Lime e-bikes and scooters will be available in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull.
Tom Newham (Lime), Beccy Marston (West Midlands Active Travel Commissioner) and Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker with the new e-bikes, photo courtesy of WMCA.
The plan is then to expand the scheme to Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley and Walsall. This will make the Midlands Lime’s second-largest hire scheme, after London.
Lime’s agreement with WMCA means that, for the first time, there will be no cost to the taxpayer in running the hire scheme. The present West Midlands Cycle scheme, operated by Beryl, has cost some £1.4m per year.
That scheme will now close at the end of March. Existing Beryl cycle-hire bikes and e-scooters will be removed from streets, to be replaced by Lime ones, and some docking stations may change.
Lime’s Pay As You Go rate is 20p per minute plus a £1 unlock fee. That price will be frozen until the end of March 2028. Riders will also be able to benefit from discounted LimePasses, with options covering one, three, five and 30 days.
For more information, see the Changes to West Midlands Cycle Hire page on the Transport for West Midlands website.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, says: ‘This new partnership makes us the first UK region to host a full fleet of Lime’s latest e-bikes, giving our people a world-class service across our towns and cities. Along with our ongoing investment in safe cycle routes, this will make it easier for people to choose cycling as an accessible, affordable and sustainable alternative to the car for shorter journeys and help us improve air quality and cut traffic congestion.’
Beccy Marston, the West Midlands Active Travel Commissioner, adds: ‘This partnership is a big win for active travel in the West Midlands—more bikes means easier, greener short trips, with an e-boost to flatten hills and opens up cycling for far more people. By expanding the fleet geography, we’re making travel more convenient, affordable and accessible, and we’re excited to build a collaborative partnership with Lime to keep improving the choices people have to get around.’
Tom Newham, Senior Manager of Public Affairs at Lime UK, says: ‘We’re excited to introduce the new LimeBike to the West Midlands, the first UK region to welcome a full fleet of the new model. The LimeBike has been designed to be our most accessible and intuitive bike yet, making it easier and more comfortable for all kinds of riders. With multiple towns and city centres in close proximity, supported by strong public transport connections, the West Midlands is well suited to shared micromobility. Working with Transport for West Midlands and local councils, we’re proud to be helping more people choose cycling for everyday journeys.’
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