Shared micromobility giant Lime is piloting two new vehicles designed for women and seniors who prefer a lower step-through frame, smaller wheels and an upgrade from pedal assist.
Lime has tried several new form factors over the years to win over customers and adapt to changing tastes and trends, and its efforts have paid off in some key ways. Generate profits In an industry where most other companies, including Tear, Bird and Spin, are struggling to survive, Lime is on track to earn more than $90 million in adjusted EBITDA in 2023, an increase of more than 500% year over year, according to the company.
Lime needs to attract more riders to maintain its dominance, and being more inclusive won’t hurt its chances of winning city contracts.
Lime’s new vehicles, the LimeBike and LimeGlider, are both based on the same platform but with some tweaks. The LimeBike is the company’s next-generation e-bike, Gen 4 bikes debuting in 2022The LimeGlider has the performance and weight of a motorcycle, but feels like a moped.
Lime is testing its next-generation electric bikes in Atlanta and Zurich, Switzerland, this week, while the Glider will be coming to Seattle in August and Zurich in September. Lime said it plans to introduce 200 to 300 e-bikes in each city to test whether the novel design attracts riders as expected.
“The essence of these products is not just to appeal to current riders, but to reach new riders,” Jason Parrish, Lime’s senior director of product management, told me, standing next to one of the new bikes at Bushwick Inlet Park in Brooklyn. “We talked to a lot of people about what they love about our rides and what they’d like to see changed, and one of the themes we heard was that some people feel like micromobility isn’t for them.”
The data backs up that claim: Lime says that about 70% of its riders are male, and the average user age is 33.
This isn’t the first time Lime has introduced new vehicles to attract new riders. In 2021, Lime Tested Electric Moped In Washington, D.C. and New York City, the company quietly phased them out a year later, then Citra Bike in Long Beach. That vehicle also ended up not being added to Lime’s fleet.
So what’s different now?
Lime says its new strategy is informed by past failures and data about how people ride, and the new models are built using overlapping parts with existing scooters and bikes, making them easier to repair.
And finally, these vehicles are focused on giving some riders what they want: smaller, more manageable frames with more storage space and a lower center of gravity.
Both the bike and the glider have smaller wheels (20 inches compared to 26 inches on the Gen4 bike) and a lower step-through height, making them easier to get on and off.
The vehicles also have a large front basket that Lime says is the largest in the industry and is shaped to fit a shopping bag. Lime’s design team also drilled holes in the bottom to allow moisture and debris to escape. Parish said Lime plans to test a rear basket on both vehicles in select markets.
Other changes to the new vehicles include a new phone holder that offers a more stable grip rather than a spider web-like rubber grip, and is set at an optimized angle for viewing the screen even in bright daylight.
“We’ve also changed the display. The display is now right underneath the phone so it’s all like one continuous set of information,” Parrish said. “We’ve simplified the battery gauge to just a battery meter and it shows you how fast you’re going. And depending on whether you’re in a slow driving zone or a no driving zone, it’ll show you different icons to communicate that message.”
Another change being introduced to both bikes is a status light, similar to the ones found on Lime’s electric scooters, that will allow riders to see if a vehicle is available for rental, even from across the road. Riders will also be able to distinguish between the two vehicles, as the LimeBike is green and white, while the LimeGlider is all green.
First Ride: LimeBike
When I rode the LimeBike shortly after test riding the Gen4, my first thought was that it definitely felt smaller. Also, the LimeBike was easier to get on and off than previous models.
While the handlebar height, seat-to-handle distance, etc. are all the same, I noticed that the ergonomics of the handlebar itself have been improved: instead of a rounded grip, there’s a flat palm area to rest your hand on.
In addition to pedal assist, the LimeBike also comes with a throttle, an addition based on feedback from customers who don’t want to break a sweat during their commute.
“What we’re seeing is some people start to step on the gas at first to get faster, but then they prefer to keep the pedal down, so they have more options,” Parrish said.
It took some getting used to since the throttle is on the right and the bell is on the left.
This bike is lighter than the Gen4, which is handy when parking over a curb after a ride. In fact, it was physically impossible to lift the front wheel of the Gen4 off the ground, which is a humbling realization. The Gen4 feels heavier because the battery is located on the downtube of the frame (or neck, as I call it in my mind). On the other hand, the LimeBike has the battery under the seat, which lowers the center of gravity and makes it feel more stable. I was able to ride the bike hands-free for at least 5 seconds.
In fact, even when I purposefully drove it over some of Brooklyn’s roughest roads, the LimeBike felt easy to handle and sturdy and solid.
First ride: LimeGlider
The Lime Glider is built on the same platform as the LimeBike, but without the pedals.
The concept of the Glider is that it’s as easy to ride as a stand-up scooter, but more comfortable to sit on, and because it’s not a high-speed vehicle, it can be ridden in bike lanes.
The seat looks more like a moped seat than a bike seat, and while it feels like it could comfortably accommodate two people, Parrish says that’s not the point — in fact, it’s long because shorter people sit in the front and taller people sit in the back.
I also had a heavy backpack in the front basket, but because the vehicle’s center of gravity is low, I didn’t feel like the bag was affecting the stability of the bike.
The Glider offered a stable ride with just the right amount of shock absorption on bumpy roads and smooth acceleration to help me dodge and weave through Brooklyn traffic. This is a good type of vehicle for long distances, or for riding in a skirt and heels, because it’s just as easy to sit down and ride. Or stand up. I did stand up for a few blocks to give my hips a rest, and it felt even more stable than riding an electric scooter.
