Source: Greater Greater Washington

After rolling out 1,000 of its newest shared e-bikes in the American city of Washington DC, the LEVA-EU member asked riders for feedback about how their service supports their mobility and lifestyle needs.

Lime’s Director of Government Relations in DC, Erika Dutherley, shared with Washington media about her perspective on the LimeBike and the significance of accessibility in the future of micromobility.

Making cycling more accessible

Dutherley explains that she believes micromobility’s next chapter will be defined by how many more people will be able to use micromobility vehicles.

She highlights the need for removing accessibility barriers, detailing that this could be in relation to making micromobility costs more manageable for users (Lime has lower cost programs such as Lime Access or subscription options like Lime Prime). Secondly, this can relate to the importance of micromobility’s connection to public transport, with its popularity for facilitating first- and last-mile trips. She also emphasises making vehicle designs more accessible through being more intuitive, stable and comfortable for riders, which Lime has done with its new LimeBike shared e-bike.

LimeBike, which has been launched in other cities across the globe, is designed to appeal to a broader audience with its accessible and comfortable design. It has been innovated as a viable transportation solution for users who don’t think of themselves as cyclists, may not have ridden a bike in years, or may feel intimidated by traditional bike designs.

Lime has incorporated years of rider feedback about comfort, ease of use and confidence to innovate a model that prioritises convenient use for a wide audience demographic. It is equipped with features including a step-through frame for easier mounting and dismounting, smaller wheels and a lower centre of gravity for a more stable riding feel and adjustable seating for accommodating different rider heights.

Lime usage in the Washington DC District

Dutherley describes the increasing need for accessibility in shared and private micromobility sectors, requiring transportation solutions to make more users feel able, encouraged and comfortable enough to use them.

After asking Lime riders about their experiences across the area, she describes a range of varied motivations and experiences for different riders.

For example, one respondent was able to use Lime to travel around with a broken foot; others used it for reasons including getting to doctors’ appointments, work, running errands and connecting with public transit connections. Dutherley emphasises that the bikes were used for practical reasons, not for a hobby, and explained their significance in making daily trips feel more manageable as she notes the following feedback from rider Zach Z.:

“One day, I rented a Lime bike when walking across the city became too exhausting, and it completely changed how I moved through my day. The electric assist helped me get to work, run errands, and meet friends without worrying about pain or fatigue slowing me down. For the first time in a while, I felt independent because I could travel farther and enjoy the city on my own terms.”

Dutherley concludes that micromobility accessibility isn’t a single project or policy, but rather an ongoing commitment to removing existing barriers, and indicates that it may be the most significant measure of success.

Lime micromobility success in San Francisco

Meanwhile, in the US city of San Francisco, it has been reported that ridership for Lime’s e-scooter has doubled from 2024 to 2025, signifying a rapid rise in the adoption of this shared micromobility mode in the California city. Connecting to public transport was the most common reason for use in the city.

Lime’s Senior Regional Lead of Government Relations, Monica DiLullo, said the following about the ridership rise to Micromobility Industries: “Lime ridership in San Francisco more than doubled year over year in 2025. As more people choose shared micromobility, we are investing in the tools, education and on-the-ground operations needed to support responsible riding and parking at scale.”