Micromobility company Lime has announced that it is bringing Jump e-bikes back to London today (3 July).
London will be the first European city to see the red e-bikes return since they were removed following Lime’s acquisition of the Jump brand in June. The Jump rentals will be available in the Uber app, and will be added to the Lime app at a later date following further systems integration.
The fleet size will start at a few hundred e-bikes and will grow with demand. Pricing will be £1 unlock and 15p per minute thereafter. Bikes will be deployed in Camden and Islington.
Lime said that the Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated a clear need for alternative methods of travel in the capital. Since lockdown restrictions eased, Lime’s e-bike rental service has seen record usage, with users taking longer journeys and the bikes being used more frequently.
Lime also recorded its highest-ever usage in a single day over the weekend of 11/12 June, with over 4,000 new users and 36,000km ridden over one weekend. Lime’s e-bike network has now facilitated over 1.5m journeys across London.
Florence Milner, general manager, UK and Ireland, Lime, said: “The return of the Jump bike-share service will mean more Londoners can take journeys and get to work in a socially distanced and environmentally friendly way, and we’re proud to be bringing them back to the city at a time when they are needed most.
“Bikeshare programmes like Lime and Jump will not only be a key part of London’s efforts to create safer streets and reduce emissions, they will be critical to ensuring increased car usage in the city doesn’t become the ‘new normal’. Lime’s acquisition of Jump allows us to operate a multi-modal fleet, with the potential to offer Londoners a range of options based on trip length and preference, all on one platform.”
Following the announcement this week that e-scooter trials will be able to begin in the UK from the 4th July, Lime has announced a global partnership with insurer Allianz. The partnership will provide Lime e-scooter riders in the UK with comprehensive insurance coverage at no extra cost to the riders, through a bespoke policy.
Both Lime and Allianz have co-designed a two-year safety campaign to run until March 2022, aiming to advance micromobility safety issues, raise safety awareness and ensure the accessibility of future mobility.
