Lime is upgrading its fleet of escooters in Baltimore

In the coming week, micromobility company Lime is bringing a new fleet of electric scooters to Baltimore.

A safety training and demonstration of the new escooters took place in the lots of M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday to kick off deployment. All parts of the city will have the upgraded scooters by the end of the week.

Lime’s electric scooters debuted in Baltimore in 2018, as the City started a dockless transportation program that allowed approved companies to obtain permits to operate. The company surpassed one million rides in the city in 2018.

“This upgrade is really about Lime’s continued commitment to the City of Baltimore,” said Robert Gardner, Lime’s director of government relations. “We’ve been with the City now since the program began and we want this upgrade to show residents that we are here for the long haul.”

The key upgrades for this model of Lime escooters, known as the ES-200, include a larger tire, as well as a lower and wider footboard, Gardner said. There are a myriad of other enhancements,  from increased visibility with reflectors on both sides of the scooter to the latest in GPS technology, which includes real-time accident detection and response to connect riders to emergency services and Lime’s support team.

These upgrades mark another investment by Lime in Baltimore, along with its Lime Action campaign to to mobilize escooter riders around issues like safer streets, social justice and cleaner air. Per the City’s escooter regulations, Lime must also deploy scooters in established equity zones. When it comes to other Technical.ly markets, we’ve covered how the company has rolled out equity zone pricing,in DC, offering affordable access to trips in that city’s Wards 7 and 8.