BIKE SHARE: Lime leaving Seattle, for now

(Lime bikes, photographed at Seacrest March 2018)

Once upon a time, it seemed like the bright-green Lime bikeshare bikes were on every corner … and between corners, to. Tuesday, after hearing that Lime is pulling its bikes out of the city for now, we went looking around West Seattle and didn’t see a single one. The company says its Seattle departure is no big deal, and temporary at that – here’s their statement:

As we head into the winter season, we have already reduced our operations based on demand. We are committed to working with the City of Seattle to create a robust mobility program that includes free floating scooters and improved bike options beginning in the spring. In the interim, we are removing our bike fleet.

Lime says December 31st is its last official bike-share day in Seattle. (The red Jump bikes will be your only option after that.) As for scooters, whether Lime’s or somebody else’s, here’s a recent city update; they’re planning to call for proposals early next year.

ProudPapa December 25, 2019 (10:30 am)

It seems Scott Kubly lasted just over a year there, departing in May.

Rick December 25, 2019 (5:43 pm)

Didn’t he end up moving to a higher paying city position?

Mj December 25, 2019 (12:14 pm)

My biggest concern with bike share and the pending scooter share is the failure to enforce the requirement to wear a helmet.

KM December 25, 2019 (2:22 pm)

Does Mazda, GM, and Ford enforce driving the speed limit? I think you are confusing manufacturers and their lending & buying platforms for The Cops.
- it rhymes with fudd December 25, 2019 (6:48 pm)
  
  Nobut Thrifty, Enterprise etc are required to rent cars that contain seatbelts.They even verify valid operators license before rental too.
- Jake from State farm December 26, 2019 (11:03 pm)
  
  No, but those cars all come with seat belts that save lives, and so do helmets. Work in the ER, you will learn quickly how valuable they are.

anonyme December 25, 2019 (1:07 pm)

Get rid of them. They are a dangerous nuisance.

Jort January 4, 2020 (9:55 am)

Car drivers killed 14 people in the city of Seattle last year. Lime bike riders killed … 0? Which of these is dangerous and a nuisance?

DantE December 25, 2019 (2:54 pm)

Why? Do you go around checking peoples seat belts too?

Mj December 25, 2019 (4:03 pm)

KM and DantE the issue is if a person is involved in an accident and gets a serious brain injury we all end up paying for it in higher insurance premiums and taxes, socializing a clearly controllable risk via wearing a helmet or seat belt is the appropriate response. Frankly I would not care if the person making the choice also has to be responsible for any costs due to the choice. But if the cost is to be socialized then society has a right to expect the risk is mitigated and this done via wearing a helmets and seat belts.

AMD December 25, 2019 (8:25 pm)

Right, that’s why the rules exist. And it’s on the user to follow the rules and the police to write a ticket. Just as in cars, it is not the manufacturer who is responsible for making sure the user follows local regulations. That is the exact point KM and DantE are making. The way you worded your concern it sounds like you have an issue with the program or the providers instead of the users who don’t follow rules. If you have no concerns about the service being provided itself, that is what you should be clarifying.
KM December 25, 2019 (9:19 pm)

I would believe your earnestness if you showed the same concern for one of the most deadly concerns on the road—car drivers. Focusing on a negligible issue shows otherwise. Also, you’re more likely to sustain a head injury in a car. #carhelmets

drM December 25, 2019 (7:10 pm)

Great idea… notwithstanding the major issues raised here about helmets. But, these damn bikes are a blight on the environment. Just left lying all over. One on Bonaire stayed there for months… and may still be there as far as I know.

mark December 25, 2019 (7:14 pm)

good riddance to bad rubbish

Helmets not most important factor December 25, 2019 (7:30 pm)

It’s been shown that improved bike infrastructure and more people riding bikes has more of an impact on bicycle safety and survival rates than helmets do. Your energy could be more effectively spent on advocating for making our communities and roadways safer for cyclists, rather than on complaining about cyclists not wearing helmets. There is debate around helmet efficacy and the emphasis that is put on them. If you visit a major European city, you will likely see many cyclists out on the streets not wearing a helmet (and you won’t see drivers shouting at them about it). Google ‘biking in Amsterdam’ and look at images. Yet in the US we have more helmet wearing cyclists, and higher bicycling fatality rates. There is work needing to be done here to make bicycling more culturally accepted and tolerated. Bike share is awesome for accessibility and convenience, helping to get more people on bikes, which is positive for traffic, the environment, and has healthful benefits. I hope we can agree the benefits far outweigh the risks of potential injuries from non helmet wearers. Let’s support expanding alternative transportation in our bustling and diverse city! Also, Merry Christmas, and may all be safe on the roads.

Fred December 25, 2019 (9:07 pm)

Yes, it’s certainly not decided that helmet laws keep riders safer. Some studies show that bikers without helmets are ride more safely than those with (who have a false sense of security). Plus cities without helmet laws have more bikers on the road, which makes cars more likely to look for them (not to mention the health benefits from more bikers, which also benefits all of us). I love Lime Bike, and I use it with or without a helmet – depending on if I have one with me. But I wish we didn’t have helmet laws for anyone over 13…

Mj December 25, 2019 (10:37 pm)

KM I’m not clear why you think I have no concern about drivers? Nothing irritates me more than seeing drivers texting while behind the wheel. I’d love to see more vigorous enforcement of this law. I would also like to see the States mandatory car owner insurance law with added teeth to better enforce the requirement, it seems that simply having to show proof of insurance at car tab relicensing could be a tool to increase compliance.AMD I should have clarified the Lime Bike service is fine. Fred like I said I have no issue if you choose to ride without a helmet, it’s your choice and if something bad happens, hopefully not, you or the responsible party need to pay not taxpayers.

newnative December 26, 2019 (9:40 am)

MJ you made a specific point to complain about bike shares, referring to the lack of helmet enforcement. Of course this infers that it’s the companies’ fault, not the fault of law enforcement or users.

StrollinginSeattle December 25, 2019 (10:58 pm)

There is a Lime Bike that was tossed over the fence into the brambles at Hamilton Viewpoint Park. They may want to grab it before pulling out of Seattle,!

mark December 26, 2019 (7:04 am)

Yes, I agree. I saw one, too, just yesterday tossed over the the very steep bluff ~100′ down below the trail in the Duwamish Greenbelt halfway up Bonair Dr. It would take an experienced S&R rappel team to remove that blight and are they gonna pay for that? Naw, the city may and we will foot the uncalculated expense.
- Rick December 26, 2019 (9:05 am)
  
  How hard was it to carry it to get there?
  - mark December 28, 2019 (8:33 am)
    
    Well, Rick, they probably dragged it down the trail at least 1/4 mile and then heaved it over the edge. I emailed LimeBike with the approximate Alki Ave number offering to point it out to a single individual that could then co-ordinate the logistical nightmare recovery operation. it was way down the embankment and impossible to see without my or the perps guidance.They thought they could find it on their own, I guess. NOT. Limebike was still there yesterday when I took my dog out for excercise. I will call Herbold.

West Seattle Hipster December 26, 2019 (6:33 am)

Seattle just does not have enough people who will use bicycles as a mode of transportation to merit the quantity of ride share bikes that were dumped on us. If Lime ever does return with bicycles, they should drastically reduce the number of bikes.

Elle Nell December 26, 2019 (9:22 am)

Great news! Those things were a hazard, practically everywhere they were parked or dropped . The scooters will be even worse. We are not China or India and want to keep it that way.

Kathy December 26, 2019 (6:44 pm)

Boo, I was just finally starting to use my Limebike app as the last mile option between Husky Stadium Light Rail Station and the UW campus and just starting to have success finding functional bikes. Share bikes when they are functional can be a great mobility device for people like who find walking very painful. And sadly, taking your personal bike on the light rail is not a great option since the cars are so crowded and space very limited for bikes. We are losing a lot of car share options such as Lime, Car2Go and Reach as well. Getting an Uber or Lyft ride can be pricey and I’m not sure I want to hop in a car with a stranger anyway. Time to download another app, I guess.

Sorry, comment time is over.