If you’ve spent any time on the North Shore over the past couple of summers, you’ve undoubtedly seen a Lime e-bike.
These sleek and modern electric bicycles, with their signature lime-green baskets and handlebars, have been revolutionizing transportation in North and West Vancouver since they were introduced to the community back in April 2021.
In fact, since that time, nearly 20,000 riders have taken almost 90,000 trips on Lime e-bikes, travelling nearly 200,000 kilometres in total and keeping over 21,000 car trips off the road. As a result, riders have saved over 10 metric tons of carbon emissions as well as over 4,500 litres of gas.
Lime is the world’s largest shared electric vehicle company, and its mission in North Vancouver is the same as in more than 200 cities around the world: to provide residents and visitors alike with a transportation option that’s fun, safe and sustainable.
The fun part goes without saying – especially when the electric pedal assist first kicks in as you’re heading up a North Shore hill. But it’s safety and sustainability that Lime really strives for, and the team is proud to say that after two years, the shared e-bike program on the North Shore is looking great on both of those fronts.
Safety always comes first at Lime – keeping riders (as well as non-riders) safe has been the foundation of their e-bike-sharing program from the beginning. Lime has helmets on all e-bikes, and they regularly share tips with riders on how to keep themselves and others safe. They also offer helpful information on how to obey the rules of the road and be a good neighbour on the streets of North and West Vancouver. Globally, over 99.99% of their rides are completed without incident, and the team is proud that their data here on the North Shore is in line with that extremely high bar.
Sustainability is also at the core of Lime’s mission, and the way they help cities build a sustainable transportation future is by offering residents and visitors a safe, affordable and carbon-free way to get around. When people hop on a Lime e-bike, that means they’re not in a car, which means they’re not contributing to air pollution, gas consumption, or taking up the space that automobiles do.
Lime couldn’t be prouder that ridership continues to increase, with total rides in September of this year up over 40% compared to last year. That might have something to do with the rolling out this past summer of their industry-leading Gen4 e-bikes, which are even more popular with riders. The new Gen4 features a more powerful pedal assist, enhanced safety features, and a smoother ride. (North Shore riders especially love this as they ascend the Spirit Trail.) The Gen4 is also more sustainable, making the fleet swap a win-win.
Lime wants to thank its partners here in the North Shore municipalities, who have allowed them to successively serve the community. The team looks forward to working with new partners in government to continue helping the North Shore build a transportation future that’s safe and sustainable for all.
To learn more about how Lime is bringing fun, safe and sustainable transportation to the North Shore and hundreds of other communities around the world, visit li.me/en-ca/vehicles/electric-bike.
