From today [07 June] London’s Lime e-bikes will be joined by its e-scooters, as the operator deploys 200 in the capital.
As part of a 12-month trial, in partnership with Transport for London and London Councils, Londoners will be able to hire Lime e-scooters in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Richmond, Canary Wharf and Tower Hamlets.
Using the Lime app, riders will be required to scan their driving licence and successfully complete a virtual safety test before the vehicle can be unlocked. The scooters will cost £1 to unlock, and 16p per minute to ride.
Furthermore, users will only be able to park the e-scooters in designated bays within participating boroughs, which will be marked in the Lime app and on the ground.
Alan Clarke, director, policy & government affairs, for Northern Europe Lime, said: “Lime loves London, and three years after launching our e-bikes in the capital, we’re so proud to be deploying our latest Gen4 e-scooters here too.
“Wherever we operate, safety is always our number one priority, which is why Lime continues to invest in industry leading software and hardware safeguards, such as highly accurate geofencing to control rider speed and behaviour, and on-vehicle technology which can detect pavement riding.
“This tech is designed to make our scooters safer for our riders, other road users and pedestrians, helping to create a well-managed and responsibly used service that benefits riders and the cities they ride in. We’re proud to be serving London with another great transport option and can’t wait for Londoners to try it out for themselves!”
New boroughs will be able to join the trial at the end of each month, with at least two more central London boroughs expected to join the service in July.
The micromobility company said its fleet will increase throughout the trial to serve these new boroughs, and on the basis of its performance in existing boroughs.
Lime is one of three operators involved in the London trials, with Dott and Tier also running rental e-scooter services in the capital.
