Tag Archive: Lime

  1. Lime reports 840,000 km rider travel during the Milan Winter Olympics

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    Source: Zag Daily Image credit: Andrea Ferrario, Unsplash

    Since the Italian city hosted 1.3 million visitors to the global sporting event from 6 to 22 February, the LEVA-EU member recorded over 433,000 trips on its shared e-bikes and e-scooters in the city, averaging at over 25,000 daily trips.

    When summarising its findings of 840,000 km travelled by Lime users during the busy period, the global operator believes it demonstrates how shared micromobility can help cities cope with peak demand levels while holding large global events.

    Lime’s Global Communications Lead, Emily Peykar, advocates that the key learning from the event is that users are more likely to choose micromobility options when it is integrated into the wider transportation network of cities, with strong operational support, and close cooperation with local authorities.

    “By focusing on creating a reliable service, supportive infrastructure and seamless first and-last mile connections, cities can convert event driven ridership into sustained everyday use,” stated Peykar.

    Milan facilitating increased micromobility use

    Lime has also shared that trips on Milan bike lanes had risen to 124% during its Olympics, when compared with the same 2025 time period, demonstrating the positive results of Milan’s cycling infrastructure investment. Over four years from 2020, Milan expanded its bike lane network by 47%, to 332 kilometres. As part of its “Cambio” bicycle plan, it is aiming to keep this expansion going, with the target of having 750 km of cycle lanes by the year 2035.

    Meanwhile, the sporting event saw a rise of 126% in users adopting Lime shared mobility services for the first time.

    To prepare for the Winter Olympics, Lime temporarily posted an additional 1,000 electric bikes in Milan, which were to remain in operation during the Winter Paralympics from 6-15 March. It also increased its staff to meet increased demand, such as deploying an additional 30% of bike mechanics at its Milan warehouse and boosting its in-field operations team responsible for maintenance and vehicle redistribution by 50%.

    Milan’s public transport integration with shared micromobility

    Lime has revealed the activity of its vehicles surrounding Milan’s transport hubs, with its most popular trip starting points all being metro stations: San Babila, Cadorna FN, Porta Genova, Cairoli and Centrale FS. The most popular trip end points were San Babila, Centrale FS, Cairoli and Cadorna stations, followed by the Olympic and Paralympic Village.

    Based on its findings, San Babila metro station was confirmed as the leading micromobility centre, with approximately 3,000 trips starting or ending there during the Olympics.

    The overlap of the same start and end locations highlights the role of micromobility as both a first- and last-mile public transportation connection mode.

    Lime demonstrates key management during peak city demand

    Lime implemented designated parking pins close to key access points to ensure management around the Winter Olympics venues. Almost 70,000 trips started or finished within parking zones of large events, as 10,700 trips ended within 800 meters of a Games venue.

    Lime’s latest results of its vehicles being used for a large sporting event follow the shared micromobility operator’s successful involvement in the summer 2024 Olympic Games in the city of Paris. With the event being much larger than the Winter Olympics, Lime confirmed that its fleet of 15,000 e-bikes was used for over 3.4 million trips.

    In other news, Lime shared that it has been acknowledged as a 2025 Leader in Sustainability by Call2Recycle / Appel à Recycler Canada. The company stated that the recognition reflects its ongoing commitment to ensuring responsible battery recycling and the role its team plays in supporting Canada’s circular economy.

  2. Police trial Lime scooters for urban patrolling in Catania, Sicily

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    Source: Lime

    With support from the city’s mayor, the Local Police of Catania have begun testing the LEVA-EU member’s electric scooters as part of a pilot project aimed at modernising urban patrol operations.

    The initiative explores how micromobility can support public services by enabling officers to patrol more efficiently, particularly in pedestrian zones, historic districts and restricted-traffic areas.

    By integrating lightweight electric vehicles into daily operations, the police aim to enhance their presence across the city while improving response times, especially in areas which are difficult to access with traditional patrol vehicles.

    Lime has stated that its scooters allow police officers to move quickly and discreetly while producing minimal emissions, supporting both operational effectiveness and environmental sustainability.

    The project is a demonstration of collaboration between the public and private sectors in showing how emerging mobility technologies can contribute to urban management and public safety.

  3. Lime introduces flat-rate rides to its monthly membership model

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    Source: Zag Daily

    The LEVA-EU member has amended its membership programme to offer better value for regular electric bike and scooter riders. It now offers flat rate rides for an unlimited number of 20-minute trips, with journeys under 5 minutes being discounted further.

    The new flat rates, which have already been launched across cities in Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, the US, and the UK, are the latest addition to the monthly LimePrime subscription option. The package also includes free unlocks and the extension of 30-minute reservations.

    Lime’s CEO Wayne Ting said the following about the package update to Zag Daily:

    “At Lime, our mission is to build a future where transportation is shared, affordable and carbon-free. Affordability features prominently because we can’t achieve our mission if people don’t feel like Lime is accessible. For riders who might otherwise rely on us for everyday trips like commutes and errands, cost could be the difference between them choosing a Lime or hopping in their car or taking a taxi.”

    Ting noted that the new flat-rate pricing option gives users greater certainty about the cost of Lime trips, making it “an easy and practical decision.”

    Addressing shared micromobility costs

    Taking into account that specific prices and discounts vary depending on markets, Lime told Zag Daily that the cost of journeys under five minutes will be approximately the same as the standard unlock fee in each city.

    With costs being one of the largest barriers to shared micromobility user adoption, other operators have also introduced pricing schemes for low-income users.

    City tenders are also making financial accessibility more of a priority, such as Denver, a significant shared micromobility city in the US which made low-income access a major priority in its most recent tender.

    As public transportation fares continue to increase in various cities like New York and London, pricing looks set to play a significant role in influencing shared mobility ridership in the coming months.

  4. Behind the scenes of Lime micromobility in Milan

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    Source: Lime, La Repubblica

    Since adapting to increased demand levels due to the recent Winter Olympics, the LEVA-EU member gives a key insight into its 24 hour operational machine that ensures an integrated and efficient service for users of its electric bikes and scooters in the city.

    Italian publication La Repubblica interviews Lime’s Senior Operations Manager for Northern Italy, Arrigo Cirio, about how Lime works in the Italian city, with logistics, algorithms and tackling incorrect usage.

    The 24 hour system behind Lime’s micromobility fleet in Milan

    In Milan, Lime operates a complex logistical network, managing 5,000 bicycles and 3,000 scooters, which was expanded by another 1,000 bicycles during the Winter Olympics to meet peak demand. According to Cirio, the operation relies on real-time monitoring, logistics coordination, and data-driven planning.

    “Our vehicles, our activities are task-based,” Cirio explains, outlining a system that operates largely invisibly to users.

    The control room and algorithmic management

    Lime’s Milan operations are centralised in the Certosa district, where offices, warehouses, and a 24-hour operations centre are housed together. Ten staff members monitor the entire fleet in real time, coordinating four key activities: recovery of faulty vehicles, battery replacement, field maintenance, and vehicle repositioning.

    “When the battery drops below a certain level, a task opens, and the operator goes to replace the battery,” Cirio says. Battery standardisation across scooters and bikes simplifies logistics, allowing for rapid turnaround.

    Strategic repositioning, known internally as “moves” is driven by algorithms that analyse patterns to help decide where vehicles should be. “The parameters analysed are varied, including usage and local demand, which are continually analysed,” Cirio notes.

    Vehicles are directed toward high-demand hotspots such as Via Dante and Piazza Duomo, supporting not just tourism, but also last-mile mobility for commuter travel. Between San Donato and Milan alone, around 300 vehicles are exchanged daily to facilitate last-mile connectivity.

    Field teams and urban logistics

    Three categories of staff operate across the city: van drivers who transport vehicles between locations, in-field mechanics handling minor street repairs, and foot patrollers overseeing high-traffic zones. “The area between the Castle and San Babila is constantly monitored in two eight-hour shifts,” Cirio explains, due to consistently high demand and rapid turnover.

    For the Olympics, Lime increased its mechanic group, and dedicated foot patrollers to the areas of Santa Giulia, the Olympic Village, and the Media Center.

    Vehicle recoveries, AI, and user compliance

    Vandalism presents operational challenges, particularly when vehicles are thrown into the Navigli canal. “In the specific case of water, as soon as the vehicle enters the water it goes offline because the system dies and therefore the GPS immediately identifies it as requiring recovery,” Cirio explains. Specialised teams then deploy anchors and safety equipment to retrieve them.

    To reduce improper parking, every rental ends with a mandatory photograph analysed by artificial intelligence. However, “there’s a second step where a manual operator verifies the effectiveness of the AI’s activity.” Repeat violations lead to escalating penalties, culminating in account suspension after three offenses.

    Lime’s flexible operational model

    Lime operates a hybrid staffing structure combining permanent employees, agency workers, and seasonal labour to accommodate fluctuating demand during major events, such as the recent Winter Olympics, the annual Milan Fashion Week, Design Week and regular sport fixtures.

  5. Lime introduces discount for disabled and carer communities in the UK

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    Source: Ability Today

    The LEVA-EU member has announced a major expansion of its accessibility programme, confirming that holders of the National Disability Card and National Carers Card will be eligible for 50% off e-bike and e-scooter rides across the UK. It is estimated that the expansion will provide discounted travel to approximately 200,000 people, helping reduce access barriers to shared mobility in the region.

    Lime established the shared mobility industry’s first large-scale affordability scheme in 2018, and has supported more than 850,000 discounted trips, making a significant difference in making its trips more affordable to users in various cities.

    Lime Access increases shared mobility accessibility

    The initiative that aims to reduce transport barriers and improve everyday mobility is estimated to provide discounted travel to approximately 200,000 National Disability & Carers Card holders nationwide.

    The expanded scheme aims to make everyday journeys more accessible and affordable, covering travel for work, education, healthcare appointments, shopping, and social activities.

    By reducing the cost of short journeys, Lime Access seeks to provide greater flexibility and independence, particularly for trips that may be indirect, physically demanding, or expensive using traditional public transport.

    Nationwide rollout of discounted rides

    From February 2026, holders of National Disability Cards and National Carers Cards will receive 50% off on both the unlock fee and per-minute ride cost on all Lime e-bikes and e-scooters. The discount will be available across all current UK operating areas, including London, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Salford (Greater Manchester), and Nottingham.

    The offer will also extend across the West Midlands from 1 April 2026, coinciding with Lime’s launch in the region. Locations included in this rollout are Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.

    Once approved, riders will be able to use the discount both locally and in neighbouring cities, ensuring continued affordability when travelling between areas.

    Stakeholders welcome scheme introduction

    Edward Herbert, Director of the National Disability & Carers Card scheme, welcomed the partnership, saying:

    “We are delighted to partner with Lime to make e-scooter and e-bike rental more accessible and affordable for National Disability Card and National Carers Card holders. For many people with hidden disabilities, long walks across city centres or reliance on crowded public transport can present significant barriers to daily life — from getting to work to socialising and staying independent.“

    “For carers, being able to move quickly and flexibly — whether to attend medical appointments, travel between clients, or run essential errands for the person they support — is vital. This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in improving daily life for our card holders.”

    Alice Pleasant, Senior Public Affairs Manager at Lime, added:

    “We’re really excited to be working with the National Disability Card and National Carers Card team, who do such important work to support people with disabilities and those who care for them.“

    “This partnership means more people can access affordable, flexible transport for everyday journeys, from getting to work or education, to healthcare appointments, shopping and social activities.”

    “By extending Lime Access to National Disability Card and National Carers Card holders, we’re helping to remove cost barriers and give people greater independence when moving around their city, particularly for shorter trips that can be difficult or expensive using other transport options. Through our Lime Access programme, we’re focused on making sure everyone in the cities we serve has access to affordable and sustainable transportation.”

    Lime Access eligibility in the UK

    In addition to National Disability and National Carers Card holders, Lime Access is also available to Jobcentre Plus Travel Card holders, Blue Light Card holders, students with NUS or institution-issued cards, and individuals using local travel concession schemes in London, Greater Manchester, and Milton Keynes.

    In London, eligibility further extends to holders of 18+ Student Oyster cards, Apprentice Oyster cards, 60+ London Oyster Cards, Freedom Passes (including Disabled Persons Freedom Pass), Veterans Oyster photocards, and the Wandsworth Access for All digital card.

    How to access discount

    Eligible riders can apply for Lime Access through the Lime website from 1 February 2026. Once approved, the discount will automatically apply to all qualifying journeys.

  6. Lime steps up Milan operations for Winter Olympics

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    Sources: Zag Daily, Smart Cities World

    Shared mobility provider and LEVA-EU member Lime is drawing on its experience of operating in worldwide cities during large-scale events, as the Winter Olympics come to Milan. Its aim is to enable smooth travel across the city for both residents and visitors, while helping reduce congestion around venues and transport hubs.

    Milan is home to a variety of Lime shared vehicles, with the latest generation of LimeBike added in May 2025, alongside e-scooters, fourth-generation e-bikes and e-bikes with child seats. Lime has not confirmed whether the fleet size will be increased during the Winter Olympics, but has outlined a number of measures being taken to ensure smooth operations and availability of vehicles during the event:

    • Increasing the number of bike mechanics in its Milan warehouse by 30%, enabling swift repairs and vehicle turnaround.
    • Doubling the number of in-field operators who manage on-street maintenance, minor repairs in parking areas, user safety checks, and active fleet management and redistribution.

    In preparation for the event in Milan, Lime has used its experience during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where 3.4 million trips on 15,000 of its bikes were taken. Speaking to Zag Daily, Matteo Cioffi, Lime’s Regional General Manager for EU Central, said, “our approach builds on lessons from previous large scale events with operational readiness, fleet availability and street support adjusted to local conditions and travel patterns rather than headline fleet numbers. In Paris, we observed clear patterns showing that shared micromobility complements public transport during major events, particularly for short trips around venues and between transport hubs and final destinations”

  7. Lime to operate in UK West Midlands region

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    Source: West Midlands Combined Authority

    The LEVA -EU member has been appointed as the West Midlands’ new hire operator with the introduction of more than 2,000 new electric bikes and scooters in the region from April. The new agreement will see the scheme operate at no cost to taxpayers for the first time, replacing a service that previously cost approximately £1.4 million (€1.6 million) per year to run.

    Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) selected global micromobility provider, Lime, to manage the official regional hire scheme after a competitive tendering process.

    No-cost model and fare commitments

    Under the new arrangement, Lime will introduce a revised fare structure but has committed to maintaining existing overall price levels for the first two years of operation. TfWM said this approach is intended to ensure sustainable transport options remain affordable while delivering financial savings to the public sector.

    Both bicycles and e-scooters will be available from the scheme’s launch on 1 April in areas currently served. TfWM, local councils and Lime will also work together to expand the network over time.

    Regional and environmental benefits

    Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said the new partnership would support cleaner and more affordable travel options while reducing pressure on public finances.

    “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.

    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.”

    Lime’s expansion into the region

    Tom Newham, Lime’s Senior Manager of Public Affairs, said the company was looking forward to launching services in the West Midlands and working with communities to build a transportation system that works for everyone.

    “The West Midlands is well suited and primed for this, with multiple towns and city centres close together and a strong public transport network. Through WMCA’s continued investment in micromobility and supporting infrastructure, there’s a real drive to make e-bikes and e-scooters a popular, practical and affordable choice for getting around.

    From our experience running schemes in towns and cities across the UK, we understand what it takes to run a service people use and rely on every day. We’re looking forward to working with communities in every part of the West Midlands to build a service that’s run locally and works for everyone – whether they ride Lime or not”

    Active travel integration

    Beccy Marston, West Midlands Active Travel Commissioner, described the partnership as a significant leap for active travel in the region.

    “This new partnership marks an exciting step forward for active travel in the West Midlands. By significantly increasing the number of e-bikes across the region, we’re making it easier for more people to choose a convenient, affordable and sustainable option for short journeys. We’re looking forward to working with Lime to embed the cycle hire scheme alongside our wider active travel interventions and infrastructure improvements.”

    Rollout details

    Further operational details, including the launch of a new customer app, will be announced closer to the start of the service.

    As with the existing scheme, Lime e-scooters will be available only in Birmingham and on the University of Warwick campus, while e-bikes will be deployed more widely across the region.

  8. Lime supports families in low-emission journeys

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    Source: Haringey Community Press

    Through the Share The Joy Community Fund, in partnership with the London Cycling Campaign (LCC), the LEVA-EU member is supporting the charity Green School Runs by enabling sustainable and enjoyable school journeys with cargo bikes for busy families in Haringey, a borough of London, UK.

    The funding facilitates Green School Runs to offer workshops, events and community riders in demonstrating to parents how everyday transportation can be active, social and fun, making a meaningful difference in Haringey, which has some of the most congested roads in London. Many parents in the area have stated that switching to a cargo bike has been transformative.

    Alice Pleasant, Lime’s senior public affairs manager said the following about its community contribution:

    “We’re really thrilled to support initiatives like Green School Runs through our Share the Joy Fund with London Cycling Campaign. Haringey has such a strong and passionate cycling community, and it’s been inspiring to work alongside local groups like Green School Runs, the Risley Primary School cycling programme and Haringey Schools Cycling League. Supporting community projects is exactly what Share the Joy is about, and with our next funding round opening later this year, we’d love to hear from other Haringey community groups who have ideas they’d like to bring to life”

    Image credit: David Miller / Haringey Community Press

  9. US cities embracing new mobility era, according to Lime

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    Source: Lime

    From studying 5 million Lime trips in Baltimore, Nashville and Phoenix, the LEVA-EU member has published recommendations on building better and safer streets. It published the 2nd edition of its annual mobility report in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclists, with findings encouraging the implementation of bike lanes and safer infrastructure.

    After using shared micromobility data to research how people travel, Lime states that US cities are in a new era of sustainable transportation which requires safer and more connected streets. The shared mobility company says its study supports global findings, implying that more people choose micromobility when there are dedicated cycling lanes with thoughtfully designed safe infrastructure.

    Results from the mobility report presents the following takeaways:

    Riders prefer dedicated cycling lanes

    • In Baltimore, newly installed cycling lanes have been associated with increasing 20% of Lime trips, when compared to streets without them.
    • In Nashville, streets equipped with cycling lanes saw trips grow faster by 39% than similar streets without bike cycling infrastructure.
    • In Phoenix, protected lanes experienced a 35% increase in ridership in comparison to without the dedicated infrastructure.

    Infrastructure encourages safety

    • For all cities studied, streets with dedicated cycling infrastructure had lower incident rates consistently, than those without them.

    Transit and connectivity are expanded by micromobility

    • Lime effectively doubled the transit walkshed from 0.8 km by walking alone to 1.77–2.09 km, increasing access to high-quality transit and providing connections for riders’ daily commutes.

    Bill Nesper, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists shared the following about the report:

    “Like last year’s findings, the insights in this report help to demonstrate exactly why communities must continue to make these investments: we can see very clearly that building better infrastructure, and establishing policies to support that infrastructure, has real-world results in helping more people to safely make trips on two wheels.”

    Study implications for US cities

    For reducing congestion, improving safety and expanding equitable transportation options, it advises the following:

    • Investing in dedicated cycling lanes to encourage more ridership, encouraging quick rider responses.
    • Prioritising safety: Creating dedicated cycling infrastructure for bikes and micromobility helps to reduce incident rate by encouraging rider confidence.
    • Boosting transit access: Micromobility completes significant “first mile/last mile” gaps, supporting people to move more freely.
    • Using data for guiding investment: Facilitating micromobility expertise and analytics to pinpoint new lanes and parking solutions which can deliver the most effective impact.

    Lime’s and the League of American Bicyclists’ latest study shows how micromobility and cycling infrastructure can reduce traffic volumes and decrease the time and economic value that’s regularly lost to congestion.

    Brandon Haydu, Lime’s Senior Program Manager, Transportation Policy & Analytics stated the following about the findings:

    “Lime’s data provides cities with a powerful tool to strengthen transportation planning and Vision Zero efforts beyond what is possible using traditional bicycle trip counts. Our partnership with the League of American Bicyclists shows that when cities build dedicated bike lanes, ridership grows, safety improves, and riders from across the city benefit. We’re happy to collaborate with the cities we serve, sharing detailed, standardized data and planning support to help build safer, more connected streets for everyone.”

    Lime will be sharing its report with transportation leaders, urban planners, policymakers and local advocates to inspire safer, greener and more accessible cities.