Lime Scooters to launch local pilot program

December 8, 2020
Photo courtesy of Lime Scooters

The City Council voted Monday to approve a proposed pilot program that would provide electric scooters to be used as public transportation in Bartlesville.

Lime Scooters in Oklahoma plans to launch a holiday pilot program in Bartlesville beginning this month through the holiday season — potentially into the spring, Community Development Director Lisa Beeman said in a recent report to the council.

“This pilot program would be a contained and very small fleet of 75 dockless electric scooters that would be available in parking areas near small businesses in the Bartlesville community, for visitors and residents, at no cost to the city,” Beeman said.

Lime currently operates in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Tulsa, Jenks and Norman, all supported by the Lime Hub warehouse in Oklahoma City and another garage in Tulsa. Under the agreement, Lime would operate within the Bartlesville city limits as it currently operates in other Oklahoma cities.

Lime will require users to comply with the following:

  • Must be at least 18 years old, but a driver’s license is not required
  • Must have their own data network access and device necessary to use the service
  • One person only on scooter and that person must be the user on the account
  • Helmets are recommended but not required unless required by law
  • Weight limit of 300 pounds
  • User is responsible for a service charge of up to $120 if the device is left in a place it shouldn’t be left

Beeman said Lime plans to hire local people to serve as “juicers,” independent contractors that collect scooters with low battery (after 9 p.m.), charge them in their home and then deploy them around the city (by 7 a.m.). Juicers are also taught how to make easy repairs on scooters. Bigger repairs are done by the Tulsa garage, she said.

Beeman said similar types of transportation and others have been considered by the City’s Transportation Committee.

“Approval of this agreement would further the City’s efforts to meet one of its transportation goals — that is, to provide safe and affordable multi-modal transportation options to all residents,” she said.

For more information about the company and its programs, see https://www.li.me/en-us/home

Photo courtesy of Lime Scooter website