Shared micromobility giant Lime is piloting two new vehicles designed to appeal to women and older people who might appreciate a lower frame, smaller wheels and a pedal-assist upgrade.
Over the years, Lime has experimented with several new form factors in an effort to attract customers and adapt to changing tastes and trends. His efforts paid off in some important ways. The company has managed to become profitable at times in an industry where most others – like Tier, Bird and Spin – have struggled to stay afloat. In 2023, Lime collected more than $90 million in adjusted EBITDA, which the company says is a more than 500% increase over the previous year.
To maintain its dominant position, Lime needs to gain even more riders. And being more inclusive doesn’t hurt the company’s chances of winning city contracts.
Both of Lime’s new vehicles – the LimeBike and the LimeGlider – are based on the same platform, but with a few tweaks. The LimeBike is Lime’s next-generation e-bike, following the company’s Gen4 bike that debuted in 2022. The LimeGlider has the performance and weight of a motorcycle, but with the feel of a moped.
This week, Lime is piloting the next-generation electric bike in Atlanta and Zurich, Switzerland. Meanwhile, the Glider is expected to come to Seattle and Zurich in August and September, respectively. Lime said he will put 200 to 300 of the vehicles in each city to test whether the fresh design attracts riders the way he hopes.
“At their core, these products are designed not only to appeal to our current riders, but also to reach new riders,” Jason Parrish, Lime’s senior director of product management, told me as we stood next to the new bikes at Bushwick Inlet Park in Brooklyn. “We’ve talked to a lot of people about what they like about our vehicles, what they’d like to see different, and one of the themes we’ve heard is that there are some groups of people who just don’t think micromobility is for them. “
The data support this claim. Lime says about 70% of its riders are male, and the average age of users is 33.
This isn’t the first time Lime has introduced new vehicles in an attempt to attract new riders. In 2021, Lime is testing electric mopeds in Washington, DC and New York. He quietly destroyed them a year later and then began testing his Citra motorcycle in Long Beach. This vehicle was ultimately not added to Lime’s fleet either.
So what’s different now?
Lime says its past failures, as well as data about how people drive, have informed its new strategy. He also built these new models using parts that overlap with existing scooters and bikes, making them easier to repair.
Finally, these vehicles are more focused on giving some riders what they’ve been asking for: smaller, more affordable 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 – with a lower ride height, making it easier to get on and off.
They also have large front baskets—Lime says the largest in the industry—that are shaped to fit grocery bags. Lime’s design team also added holes in the bottom to allow moisture and debris to find their way out. Parrish noted that Lime will test the rear baskets in certain markets on both vehicles.
Other changes to the new vehicles include a new phone holder that isn’t so much a spidery rubber grip but a firmer grip and is set at an angle that’s optimized so you can see your screen on a bright day.
“We’ve also changed the display, now it’s right under the phone, so it’s all kind of a continuous set of information,” Parrish said. “We’ve simplified the battery meter to just a battery meter and it will tell you the speed you’re going. And depending on whether you’re in a slow ride zone or no work zone, different icons will appear to convey that message to you.”
Another change coming to both bikes includes a status light, similar to the one on Lime’s e-scooters, that allows riders to see from across the road if the vehicle is ready for hire. Riders will also be able to tell the two vehicles apart because the LimeBike is green and white, but the LimeGlider is all green.
First ride: LimeBike
My first thought when I jumped on the LimeBike immediately after taking the Gen4 for a spin was that it actually feels smaller. And it was easier to get on and off the LimeBike than its predecessor.
Although everything like the height of the handlebars and the distance between the seat and the handlebars were the same, I noticed an improvement in the ergonomics of the grips themselves. Instead of a rounded grip, this one has a flat palm area for your hand to rest.
LimeBike also has a throttle, in addition to pedal assist. This addition is based in part on feedback from customers who don’t want to sweat on their way to work.
“What we’re actually seeing is that some people might start with the gas to accelerate faster, but then they still like to pedal, so it gives them more choice,” Parrish said.
This throttle is on the right side and the bell is on the left, which took some getting used to.
The bike is also lighter than the Gen4, which helps when you’re trying to get it over a curb to park it after a ride. In fact, I physically couldn’t lift the Gen4 front wheel off the ground, a humbling realization. The Gen4 feels heavier because the battery is on the frame down tube (or neck as I call it in my mind). Whereas with the LimeBike, the battery is under the seat, making for a lower center of gravity, which also feels more stable. I managed to ride hands-free for at least five full seconds.
In fact, I came away from my ride thinking that the LimeBike felt easy to handle, solid, and sturdy, even when I purposely raced it on Brooklyn’s best rough roads.
First Ride: LimeGlider
The Lime Glider is built on the same platform as the LimeBike, but without pedals.
The idea with the Glider is that it’s as easy as a standing scooter, but more comfortable to sit on and enjoy. It’s also not a high-speed vehicle, so it’s driven on bike lanes.
The seat is more of a moped seat than a bicycle seat, and while it feels like it could easily accommodate two riders, Parrish says that’s not the intent. It’s really that long because shorter people will want to sit in the front and taller riders will want to sit in the back.
I should also note that I kept my heavy backpack in the front basket and found that due to the vehicle’s low center of gravity, I didn’t feel like my bag was affecting the stability of the ride.
The Glider also provided a solid ride with decent grip over rough roads and smooth acceleration that helped me dodge and navigate through Brooklyn traffic. This is the type of vehicle I would drive longer distances or if I were wearing a skirt and heels because it really is as easy as sit down and go. Or upright! I rode a few blocks straight to rest my lower back, and it felt even more stable than riding an electric scooter.
