Lime has introduced two initiatives to provide free rides for key workers and discounts for low-income users on its e-bikes in London and e-scooters in Milton Keynes and Salford.
The micromobility operator will invest £1m in Lime Aid and Lime Access over the next 12 months. The aid programme will provide key workers, including NHS and emergency services staff, with unlimited free 30-minute e-bike rides to help them commute to work.
Lime said it hoped the scheme will also help in reducing the spread of the coronavirus by enabling a socially distanced transport option free of charge.
Furthermore, the access scheme will implement a subsidised rate for low-income users to help them travel to important commitments such as job interviews and doctor appointments. According to Lime, an average e-bike or e-scooter ride of around 1.5 miles could cost £1.40 for access users.
The programme will be run in partnership with the London Cycling Campaign. Any user who signs up to either scheme in the UK capital will receive three months free membership to the London Cycling Campaign, providing insurance, legal advice and cycling tips free of charge.
London Cycling Campaign’s chief executive, Ashok Sinha, said: “Getting around on two wheels is the future for health, environmental and congestion-busting reasons. This initiative from Lime will bring that future a step closer, by helping those most impacted by the Covid pandemic to cycle through the tough few months ahead.”
