Lime to introduce new fares in UK metro
22 January 2026
by William Thorpe
Lime will introduce a new fare structure when it takes over the West Midlands cycle and e-scooter hire scheme in April, although detailed pricing information has yet to be confirmed.
The operator has said that while the structure will change, overall price levels will be maintained for the first two years of operation.
Hal Stevenson, Director of Policy, UKI, Lime, told Cities Today that further details of the scheme would be published closer to the April launch.
From 1 April, Lime will replace Beryl as the official provider across Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton, following a competitive tender run by Transport for West Midlands. More than 2,000 bikes and e-scooters are set to be deployed across the region.
No cost to the taxpayer
The new contract marks a change in how the regional scheme is funded. For the first time, the cycle and e-scooter hire programme will operate at no cost to the taxpayer. Previously, cycle hire in the region cost around £1.4m a year to run.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said the new arrangement combines a new fleet with price stability and public savings.
“By bringing in a brand-new fleet of bikes and scooters and freezing prices for the next two years, we’re making sure there’s a practical and affordable green alternative for shorter journeys–helping to tackle traffic congestion and improve the air we breathe,” Parker said.
“And by securing a partnership that operates at no cost to the taxpayer, we are saving the public purse more than £1 million a year. This is money we can now reinvest back into our regional transport, delivering better journeys for everyone.”
Transport for West Midlands is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, which said full details of the fare structure and a new customer app will be announced ahead of the April launch.
Rollout and coverage
Both bikes and e-scooters will be available immediately after launch in areas currently served by the existing scheme, with local councils, TfWM and Lime able to work together to expand the network over time.
As with the current arrangement, Lime e-scooters will only operate in Birmingham and on the University of Warwick campus.
The West Midlands becomes Lime’s second-largest UK operating area by geography, after London, serving a population of around 6.1 million. The operator already runs schemes in cities including Manchester, Nottingham, Milton Keynes and Oxford.
Image: Hanohiki | Dreamstime.com
