Key Points:
- Forest, a homegrown London e-bike operator, has expanded its operations into the London Borough of Ealing, bringing its total network coverage to 20 boroughs across the city.
- Starting from 30th July, Forest began rolling out a fleet of 900 bikes across the Ealing borough.
- To celebrate the launch, Forest introduced a promotional offer of pay-as-you-go rides priced at just £1 for every journey originating in Ealing, running from launch until the end of August.
- With this expansion, Forest serves over 1.5 million customers citywide and maintains the largest fully continuous operating area of any shared e-bike provider in the Capital.
- The move creates vital cross-border connectivity, making Forest the only dockless e-bike provider to offer seamless travel between Ealing and its three neighboring West London boroughs: Brent, Hounslow, and Hammersmith & Fulham.
- Operational capabilities are significantly boosted by Forest’s nearby 65,000-square-foot warehouse facility located on Hythe Road in Hammersmith & Fulham, which directly borders Ealing.
- Over time, the company will introduce its “Friends of the Forest” scheme to Ealing locals, providing a 50% discount on pay-as-you-go rates (dropping to £0.17 per minute) for low-income residents, key workers, NHS staff, individuals with disabilities, carers, students, and those over 60.
- Alongside the launch, Forest is deploying a specialized “Forest Force” team to high-risk areas to monitor, stop, and penalise riders caught red-light jumping or pavement riding, in close collaboration with Ealing Council and Ealing Cycling.
London (Extra London News) July 31, 2026 – London’s homegrown shared electric bike operator, Forest, officially announced its market entry into the London Borough of Ealing on Friday, a major expansion that elevates its total operational footprint to 20 boroughs across the British capital. As detailed by journalist Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz, the rollout commenced on 30th July, with the deployment of 900 new e-bikes designed to bridge geographic mobility gaps in West London while reinforcing the firm’s status as London’s fastest-growing shared micromobility provider.
How does the Ealing launch impact London’s wider e-bike network?
The arrival of Forest in Ealing marks a significant turning point for the capital’s public transportation infrastructure, knitting together disparate transit corridors into a unified grid. According to Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz, this strategic expansion grants Forest riders access to “the largest fully continuous area of all e-bike operators in the Capital.”
By establishing a presence in Ealing, Forest has unlocked critical connectivity across West London. As reported by Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz, the company has achieved a unique operational milestone, becoming
“the only dockless e-bike operator able to offer seamless travel between Ealing and its three neighbouring boroughs of Brent, Hounslow, and Hammersmith & Fulham.”
This expansive coverage area is logistically underpinned by close geographic proximity to corporate infrastructure. Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz noted that
“this expanded network is further supported by Forest’s nearby 65,000 square foot warehouse facility on Hythe Road, in Hammersmith & Fulham which directly borders Ealing and enhances operational efficiency across the area.”
What promotional pricing and affordability measures are being introduced?
In an effort to encourage local residents to embrace sustainable travel choices for daily commuting, Forest has rolled out an aggressive introductory pricing structure. As highlighted by Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz,
“To mark the launch, Forest will offer pay-as-you-go rides for just £1 for every ride that starts in Ealing from now until the end of August, reaffirming the company’s commitment to making travel both more sustainable and affordable while encouraging more people to choose cycling for everyday journeys.”
Beyond the initial summer promotion, the company plans to integrate long-term social value provisions into the community. As documented by Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz,
“Over time, Forest will expand its Friends of the Forest scheme to Ealing residents, providing 50% 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, bringing the price per minute to £0.17 per minute.”
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What are company executives saying about the West London expansion?
Company leadership has emphasized that the Ealing launch represents a core pillar of its broader corporate mission to deliver reliable, eco-friendly transit options across the entire metropolitan area. Commenting on the milestone, Alex Berwin, Head of Policy at Forest, stated to Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz:
“We are delighted to be expanding into Ealing, which marks another important milestone in Forest’s growth. Operating across 20 boroughs, we’re now able to offer the largest continuous network in London, making journeys across the Capital even more seamless.”
Berwin further elaborated on the company’s community-centric vision in his statement to Micromobility Biz, adding:
“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.”
How will safety and responsible riding be enforced in Ealing?
Addressing common urban concerns surrounding dockless bike deployment—such as obstructive parking, pavement riding, and traffic violations—Forest is introducing a proactive compliance initiative alongside its physical rollout. As reported by Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz,
“As part of its operations in Ealing, Forest will also roll out a new initiative to encourage safe and responsible riding – Forest Force – which will see the company deploy a dedicated team to high-risk locations known for red-light jumping and pavement riding, and stop and penalise any Forest riders who do so.”
To ensure these enforcement measures target the areas most in need of intervention, the operator is maintaining close institutional coordination. According to Rebecca Bland of Micromobility Biz,
“Forest will work closely with Ealing Council and Ealing Cycling to identify which junctions would benefit from this initiative.”
With a massive user base now exceeding 1.5 million customers throughout London and an extensive fleet tracking system, Forest’s entry into Ealing solidifies its market presence.
The integration of discounted access tiers, dedicated local enforcement teams, and cross-borough continuity sets a new operational standard for micromobility services across the United Kingdom capital.
