Lime rolls out dockless bicycles in Baltimore

Rentable bicycles returned to Baltimore over the weekend.
Lime introduced a fleet of 250 electric-assist bikes to go along with the 1,000 e-scooters that appeared in recent months.

Great News Baltimore! As we celebrate the Complete Streets Legislation – the dockless electric assist bicycles will hit the street of Baltimore City this weekend! @limebike pic.twitter.com/t1jZr6yOON

— Baltimore City DOT (@BmoreCityDOT) December 6, 2018

Like the e-scooters, the bicycles under a dockless bikeshare model, meaning they can be returned where a rider leaves off rather than to a station. Bikes are $1 to unlock and $.15/minute to ride.
With the bikes on the streets, Lime indicated it is now “fully operational” in Baltimore. The shared transportation company initially introduced scooters over the summer, following a move by the city to shut down the Baltimore Bike Share program. Lime and e-scooter company Bird are allowed to operate in Baltimore under a pilot agreement with the city’s transportation department which requires the company to pay fees of $20/bike and $1 per day to the city. It runs through February 2019.
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to bring bikes back to Baltimore and to provide accessible, affordable mobility options for riders across the city,” Sean Arroyo, General Manager for Lime, said in a statement. “…The city of Baltimore has been a terrific partner in this effort and we could not be more excited for ongoing work with city and community leaders to best fill Baltimore’s unique transportation needs.”
Lime’s dockless bikes make them distinct from the previous Bike Share, which relied on stations. They also reintroduce pedal-assist technology to Baltimore, which was a highlight of the Baltimore Bike Share program upon initial rollout. The Lime-E model contains a battery-powered motor that provides a little extra pedal power for those Baltimore hills.
Lime also seeks to promote safety, offering reminders to riders to wear a helmet.