Shared micromobility giant Lime is piloting two new vehicles designed to appeal to women and seniors who might appreciate a lower frame, smaller wheels and improved pedal assist.
Over the years, Lime has experimented with several new product formats in an effort to capture customer attention and adapt to changing tastes and trends. Its efforts have paid off in several 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 generated more than $90 million in adjusted EBITDA, which the company says represents a more than 500% increase from the previous year.
To maintain its dominance, Lime needs to attract even more travelers. And being more inclusive doesn’t hurt the company’s chances of winning contracts with cities.
Lime’s two new vehicles – the LimeBike and 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 launched in 2022. The LimeGlider has the performance and weight of a motorcycle, but with the feel of a moped.
Lime is testing the next-generation e-bike this week in Atlanta and Zurich, Switzerland. The Glider is expected to arrive in Seattle and Zurich in August and September, respectively. Lime said it will place 200 to 300 vehicles in each city to see if the new models are attracting riders as it hopes.
“At its core, these products are designed not only to appeal to our current users, but also to reach new users,” Jason Parrish, Lime’s senior director of product management, told me as we stood next to the new bikes in Brooklyn’s Bushwick Inlet Park. “We 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 heard was that there are certain groups of people who don’t feel like they’re a good fit for micromobility.”
The data backs up this claim. Lime claims that about 70% of its users are men and the average age of its users is 33.
This isn’t the first time Lime has launched new vehicles to try to attract new riders. In 2021, Lime tested electric mopeds in Washington, D.C., and New York City. It quietly phased them out a year later, then began testing its Citra motorcycle in Long Beach. That vehicle also ultimately wasn’t added to Lime’s fleet.
So what’s different now?
Lime says its past failures, along with data about how people ride, informed its new strategy. The company also built these new models using parts that overlap with its existing scooters and bikes, making them easier to repair.
And finally, these vehicles are more focused on giving some riders what they’ve been asking for: smaller, more accessible frames with more storage and a lower center of gravity.
Both the Bike and Glider have smaller wheels – 20 inches, compared to 26 inches on the Gen4 bike – with a lower standover height, making it easier to get on and off.
They also feature large front baskets — Lime says they’re the largest in the industry — that are designed to accommodate grocery bags. Lime’s design team also added holes in the bottom to allow moisture and trash to escape. Parrish noted that Lime will test rear baskets in select markets for both vehicles.
Other changes to the new vehicles include a new phone holder that feels less like a spidery rubber grip and more like a steady squeeze, and is set at an optimized angle for viewing your screen on a sunny day.
“We also changed the display, so it’s now right below the phone, so it’s all kind of a rolling informational display,” Parrish said. “We simplified the battery gauge to just a battery indicator, which will tell you how fast you’re going. And depending on whether you’re in a slow-moving zone or a no-traffic zone, it’ll show you different icons to tell you that.”
Another change that will be made to both bikes includes a status light, similar to that of Lime’s electric scooters, that allows riders to see from across the road whether the vehicle is ready to rent. 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 round: LimeBike
The LimeBike features a lower frame and smaller tires. Photo credit: Lime
Image credits: Lime
My first impression upon getting on the LimeBike right after trying the Gen4 was that it actually felt smaller. And it was easier to get on and off the LimeBike than its predecessor.
While the handlebar height and distance from the seat to the handlebar have remained the same, I did notice an improvement in the ergonomics of the grips themselves. Rather than a rounded grip, this one has a flat palm area to rest your hand on.
In addition to pedal assistance, the LimeBike also comes with a throttle. This addition is partly based on feedback from customers who don’t want to sweat on the way to work.
“What we’re actually seeing is that some people start by pressing the accelerator to accelerate faster, but they still like to pedal, which gives them more choice,” Parrish said.
The throttle is on the right side and the bell is on the left side, which took just a little getting used to.
The bike is also lighter than the Gen4, which helps when you’re trying to carry it to a curb to park it after a ride. In fact, I physically couldn’t lift the Gen4’s front wheel off the ground, which is a humbling realization. The Gen4 feels heavier because the battery is on the downtube of the frame (or neck, as I call it in my mind). Whereas with the LimeBike, the battery is under the saddle, which allows for a lower center of gravity that 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 was easy to handle, sturdy, and durable, even when I deliberately rode it on Brooklyn’s most rugged roads.
First round: LimeGlider
LimeGlider on the street in Brooklyn
The LimeGlider has the body of an e-bike and the ease of a moped. Photo credit: Rebecca Bellan
Image credits: Rebecca Bellan | TechCrunch
The Lime Glider is built on the same platform as the LimeBike, but without pedals.
The idea behind the Glider is that it is as easy to use as a stand-up scooter, but more comfortable to sit on and enjoy. It is also not a high-speed vehicle, so it is used on cycle paths.
The seat looks more like a moped seat than a bicycle seat, and while it looks like it could easily accommodate two passengers, Parrish says that’s not its purpose. In reality, it’s so long because shorter people will want to sit forward, and taller passengers will want to sit toward the back.
I should also note that I had my heavy backpack in the front basket and, thanks to the vehicle’s low center of gravity, I didn’t feel like my bag was impacting the stability of the ride.
The Glider also gave me a solid ride with decent absorption on bumpy roads and smooth acceleration that helped me dodge and weave through Brooklyn traffic. It’s the type of vehicle I’d use for long distances or if I were wearing a skirt and heels, because it really is as easy as sitting down and going. Or standing up! I rode for a few blocks standing up to rest my lower back, and it was even more stable than riding an electric scooter.
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