How to Pass Forest Bikes SMS Verification

• By SMSPool Admin
• April 20, 2026
• Guides

Forest Bikes requires an SMS verification code before you can unlock your first e-bike, and if you're using a VoIP phone number, the code won't arrive. The solution is a real, non-VoIP UK mobile number from SMSPool. It takes around 30 seconds for the code to be received, with prices starting from $0.06 USD.

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What is Forest Bikes?

Forest Bikes is a dockless e-bike sharing service based in London. It was initially named HumanForest when it was established in 2020, and a year later, it rolled out its e-bike service in London, Islington. The founder of the company is named Agustin Guilisasti, a former Cabify executive, who was joined by Caroline Seton and Michael Stewart as co-founders.

In August 2023, the firm decided to drop the "Human" part from its name and rebranded as just Forest Bikes. The bikes run on zero-carbon electricity provided by Octopus Energy. Forest Bikes has obtained B Corp certification and is Verra validated for its carbon impact.

Forest Bikes's business model is rather different. It is ad-supported, with corporate partners sharing the cost of rides as a way to subsidise it. This is the reason why Forest Bikes can afford to keep prices competitively low compared to its main competitor, Lime.

Forest Bikes is available on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. You can learn more at the official Forest Bikes website or read the full history on Wikipedia.

Where Forest Bikes Operates

Forest Bikes currently only operates in London. It has a very extensive service zone in the city with a high concentration of the network in central and inner London. These areas are Camden, Islington, Southwark, the City of London, Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith, Fulham, Wandsworth, Lambeth and more.

Forest Bikes has been actively expanding the coverage of the service to outer boroughs. It provides the service in Kingston and Sutton and was picked as the partner for providing e-bikes in Hounslow along with Voi for 2025. In March 2026, Richmond Council voted to make Forest Bikes the borough's sole e-bike operator. Lime will be replaced from summer 2026, subject to final agreements.

Parking is very strictly regulated. To end your ride, you have to park your bike inside one of Forest Bikes's designated bays, which are shown on the in-app map. If you finish your ride outside the approved zone, you will be issued a penalty, as GPS tracking catches everything.

When you are in central London, you will hardly miss Forest Bikes bikes all around you. But zones farther away from Thames can be checked on the app's coverage map if you want to plan your route. Keep in mind that Forest Bikes operates only within London, any other areas outside the capital (London) are not covered by the service.

Forest Bikes Cost: How Pricing Works in London

Forest Bikes's pay-as-you-go pricing is very clear. Every time you use a bike, you pay a £1 unlock fee, which includes up to 30 free ride minutes depending on the bike you select. After your free minutes are used, rides cost 29p per minute. The only thing that you will have to do before your first ride is adding a payment method. Forest Bikes makes a temporary pre-authorization before each e-bike rental these charges will be returned after your ride.

In case you are a frequent rider, Forest Bikes has a Forest Plus subscription that turns out to be even cheaper per ride than pay-as-you-go. Besides, the "Friends of the Forest" programme offers a 20% discount on pay-as-you-go prices to NHS staff, emergency services, students and riders aged 60 and over. Eligibility proof is required.

Why Forest Bikes Requires SMS Verification

Since Forest Bikes hands out free ride minutes on each e-bike, it will naturally attract attempts to create fake accounts. Without phone verification, anyone can create multiple profiles and take advantage of the daily free rides.

By using SMS verification, Forest Bikes links each user account with a genuine, active mobile number. It turns the creation of multiple accounts into a costly action, and at the same time, it allows Forest Bikes to send you a receipt of your rides, safety notifications, and customer support messages.

Forest Bikes uses advanced security filters on their SMS verification system. The system blocks VoIP numbers, and those from carriers with a poor fraud reputation. If your number is flagged, the code simply will not arrive.

Why Your Forest Bikes Verification Code Isn't Arriving

There are three common reasons why you might not receive a Forest Bikes verification code.

First, if your number is VoIP, such as Google Voice, TextNow, or Burner, these are VoIP numbers and they route calls and messages over the internet, not through cellular networks. Forest Bikes's system recognizes these instantly and sometimes doesn't send the SMS verification to the phone number without any notification to explain why.

Second, if your number is international. Forest Bikes does support a variety of country codes, but in reality, the routing of international SMS to the UK from other countries is very unreliable. SMS Verification texts that are sent automatically have very low priority on international routes and, as a result, they can get delayed by several hours or occasionally never arrive. For example, tourists who happen to be in the United Kingdom and are trying to register with foreign numbers can face issues with SMS verification due to using foreign numbers.

Third, your cellular provider could be blocking the automated SMS verification. Some UK mobile operators may block certain messages. This is infrequent but it does happen occasionally.

In every situation, the solution is identical: have a genuine UK mobile number that is supported by a full cellular network instead of a VoIP one. SMSPool does exactly that for you.

How to Verify Forest Bikes with SMSPool: Step by Step

This whole process takes under a minute if you already have an SMSPool account.

1. Get a UK number from SMSPool

Log in to SMSPool. If you don't have an account yet, sign up at SMSPool.net, it takes seconds.

Top up your balance, then head to the Order page. Select United Kingdom as the country and search for Forest Bikes in the service list. Purchase the number.

2. Enter the number in the Forest Bikes app

Download the Forest Bikes app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Start the sign-up flow. When prompted for a phone number, select the 44 country code and paste in the UK mobile number from your SMSPool dashboard.

3. Retrieve your code from SMSPool

Switch back to SMSPool. Your Forest Bikes SMS verification code will appear under your active order, usually within a few seconds. Enter the 6-digit code into the Forest Bikes app.

That's it. Your account is verified. Add a payment method, find your nearest bike on the map and you are riding.

After SMS Verification: Getting Started

Once your account is set up, a few things are worth knowing before your first ride.

You need to be 18 or over to ride a Forest Bikes bike. You will be asked to add a payment method, as the £1 ride fee is charged up front. UK debit and credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay all work.

End your ride in a green parking bay on the map, not on the pavement outside your flat. Forest Bikes charges a penalty for parking outside approved zones.

Forest Bikes SMS Verification FAQ

Does Forest Bikes have a promo code?

Forest Bikes occasionally offers promo codes for free ride minutes or discounted unlocks. The best place to find current codes is the official Forest Bikes website and their app. Signing up through referral links from existing users can also unlock bonus minutes.

Does Forest Bikes have a promo code?

Forest Bikes occasionally offers promo codes for free ride minutes or discounted rides. The best place to find current codes is the official Forest Bikes website or their app. Promo codes are usually time-limited and tend to circulate on deal forums and the Forest Bikes social media channels.

Can I use an international phone number to register for Forest Bikes?

You can try, but expect the SMS code to either arrive hours late or not at all. International SMS routing can be unreliable for SMS verification. A proper UK number from SMSPool is far more reliable.

Why does Forest Bikes reject my Google Voice or TextNow number?

Forest Bikes's security filters block VoIP numbers to prevent fake account abuse. Any VoIP-issued number will fail verification regardless of the country code.

How much does it cost to verify a Forest Bikes account through SMSPool?

A UK Forest Bikes SMS verification starts at $0.06 USD. All pricing is visible on the Order page before you pay.

Do I actually need a phone number to ride Forest Bikes bikes?

Yes. Forest Bikes will not let you unlock a bike, add a payment method or complete any rides without a verified phone number. It is mandatory on account creation.

Does SMSPool work with the latest Forest Bikes app?

Yes. SMSPool numbers work with the current version of the Forest Bikes app on both iOS and Android.

Is there a minimum age to use Forest Bikes?

Yes, you must be 18 or over. This is confirmed in Forest Bikes's terms and enforced during sign-up.

What happens if my verification code doesn't arrive from SMSPool?

If a code hasn't arrived after a few minutes, cancel the order from your SMSPool dashboard for a refund and try another number. Most codes arrive within seconds.

Can I use one SMSPool number to verify multiple Forest Bikes accounts?

No. Each Forest Bikes account needs its own verified phone number. Forest Bikes ties the phone number to the account after the first successful verification.

Is using a temporary number to verify Forest Bikes legal in the UK?

Yes. There is nothing illegal about using one of our non-voIP temporary phone numbers to receive a SMS verification code. You should still follow Forest Bikes's terms of service when using the platform.

How fast do Forest Bikes e-bikes go?

Forest Bikes e-bikes are limited to 25km/h, which is the maximum assisted speed permitted for electric bikes on UK roads. The motor assistance cuts out above this speed, though you can pedal faster under your own power.

Who owns Forest Bikes?

Forest Bikes was co-founded by Agustin Guilisasti, Caroline Seton and Michael Stewart. Guilisasti previously worked as an executive at ride-hailing company Cabify. The company is independently operated and B Corp certified.

Are Forest Bikes e-bikes electric?

Yes. Every bike in the Forest Bikes fleet is an e-bike with pedal-assist electric motors, powered entirely by zero-carbon electricity.

What's the difference between Forest Bikes and Lime in London?

Forest Bikes is competitively priced against Lime and is the only operator powering its entire fleet with zero-carbon energy. Lime has wider coverage across outer London boroughs.

Where can I read more about Forest Bikes?

Forest Bikes's official blog at forest.me/blog covers pricing updates, coverage expansion and company news.

Need help with your order? Visit our support centre or check the SMSPool FAQ for answers to common questions.

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