It's a bike. It's a scooter. It's a LimeGlider! Seattle's latest wheels for rent
For years, Seattle has had ebikes and scooters for rent on sidewalks around the city. Now, it will have gliders, too.
Lime has offered ebikes for rent in Seattle for years. In 2022, it introduced electric scooters (which riders stand on). The LimeGlider fits in the middle of the two vehicles.
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Lime touts its LimeGlider (and its newest LimeBike) as its "most inclusive rides to date." It has smaller wheels and a lower center of gravity, which the company says will open it up to more riders.
While it is sending its newest LimeBike model to Atlanta and Zurich, the company is piloting the LimeGlider in Seattle, starting mid-August. The glider appears like a bike at first glance, but looking closer riders will notice that there are no pedals. It also has a larger seat. It's moved using a thumb-throttle, instead of pedals. Lime states that it "combines the seated comfort of a bike with the effortlessness of a scooter."
According to a company spokesperson, the LimeGlider is lighter and slower than mopeds, which Lime hopes will make early riders feel more comfortable trying them out.
The LimeGlider is intended to be used in the city's bike lanes, and not on sidewalks. Seattle regulations state that rentable vehicles like Lime's are limited to traveling up to 15 mph.
"We think LimeGlider can serve longer trips than our existing fleet, thanks to the comfort and ease of use it offers," a spokesperson said. "With a padded seat and no need to pedal, riders can simply glide for as long as they like. While our e-scooters are traditionally used for trips around a mile-long, and our e-bikes for trips around two-to-three miles, we think LimeGlider can help people commute farther distances, visit friends across town, see more of a city when traveling, or even just a way to get outside and relax for longer periods of time. Our goal is to serve any trip under five miles and we think LimeGlider offers a new piece of the puzzle to get there."
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