Image credit: Lime
California-based mobility startup Lime, which recently raised €41.36M in investment for e-bikes and expansion to 25 new cities, has today introduced a new monthly membership subscription called “Lime Prime,” now available in Lime markets worldwide. With this development, the company says it will reward its frequent membership riders.
Lime is offering new users one month of Lime Prime free which waives unlock fees and extends no-cost reservations to 30-minutes on every Lime bike, scooter or moped ride. The company believes this will encourage sustainable commuting in cities as workers return to offices for the first time in over a year.
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Besides, the company has shown intentions that the use of e-bikes will also assist cities in avoiding the return of dangerous and harmful car congestion in business districts that may impede the economic recovery of cities around the world.
Here’s what to expect from Lime Prime
According to the company, Lime Pass – which is $5.99 per month (approx €4.91/month), will help its frequent riders to save money by reducing the cost of each ride. For instance, a rider who takes one trip per day will save approximately $25 per month (approx €20.50/month) with Lime Prime, and savings increase with every ride.
Lime Pass can be applied in any city within the country in which it’s purchased and is applicable across Lime’s full fleet of electric scooters, bikes, and mopeds. As part of the launch, Lime is also offering one free month of Lime Prime as an initial promotion for new members who have never before purchased a Lime Pass.
Speaking on the development, Lime President Joe Kraus says, “At Lime, our mission is to provide a reliable, affordable, carbon-free transportation network that allows riders to replace car travel for short trips, and Lime Prime is a key step towards that goal. We want to reward riders that have made the switch to Lime with added convenience and a lower cost. It’s all part of our effort to help cities and their residents Spring Back with Lime and get moving again in ways that are safe and sustainable, as COVID-19 restrictions continue to lift and people begin to rediscover everything that makes cities great.”
According to the company, with Lime Prime, members will have access to waived unlock fees across all modes of vehicles. With no unlock fees, riders will receive 25 per cent off the price of their ride and can also pair Lime Prime with future promotions and day passes to further increase savings.
Lime Prime members can also reserve any Lime vehicle for up to 30 minutes at no cost, compared to just 10 minutes for a standard user. With respect to the sustainability aspect, the company says it will plant a tree for every new rider to sign up for a paid Lime Prime membership through mid-July
Fight against climate change
As we all know by now, how important it is for us to plant trees as they are essential to the health of our planet, strong communities, and reducing the harmful effects of climate change. For years, scientists have identified reforestation as one of the top solutions to the climate crisis.
In this regard, Lime looks to further enable riders to make emissions-free commuting part of their daily lives, and in the process contribute to the ongoing fight against climate change. The company says its customers have avoided over 50 million car trips, preventing the equivalent of a bumper to bumper traffic jam wrapping more than 7 times around the Earth.
The company’s idea of planting a tree for every new Lime Prime rider also falls with the initiative of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Lime has partnered with One Tree Planted in order to achieve the goal.
One Tree Planted is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to global reforestation. One tree will be planted for every new paying Lime Prime member, furthering each rider’s impact. Lime has selected tree planting projects reviving the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, Bushfire recovery in Australia, and Chippewa National Forest in the US.
Diana Chaplin, Canopy Director at One Tree Planted, comments, “We’re proud to work with partners dedicated to taking real action for sustainability. These reforestation efforts will help to further Lime riders’ impact across the globe, mitigating the effects of climate change while restoring the land for biodiversity and the long-term health of forests.”
Carbon negative by 2025, net-zero by 2030
Last year, Lime partnered with the WWF to launch its Ride Green initiative to create more liveable, pollution-free cities. As part of the collaboration, Lime is committed to reaching carbon negative by 2025 and net-zero by 2030 as well as setting a science-based carbon emissions target to hold itself accountable.
Here are few steps the company has taken to reduce its carbon impacts:
- Transforming its local operations to rely only on zero-emission vehicles and e-cargo bikes in Europe by 2021, and globally by 2023
- Building its scooters using 90 per cent recycled or low-carbon materials
- Continuing to purchase local renewable energy near the cities it serves
- Continuing to assess its supply chain to find improvements and efficiencies around sustainability
About Lime
Founded by Brad Bao and Toby Sun, Lime aims to provide a sustainable solution to the first and last-mile transportation problem by helping people move around their cities in an affordable and convenient way while eliminating their carbon footprint. The company partners with cities to deploy electric bikes and scooters enabled with GPS and self-activating locks. In Europe, it serves more than 60 cities, including Paris, Berlin, London, Rome, or Budapest.
Riders took more than three million rides through the platform last year and the company expects that number to grow this year as people return to work, school, social activities, and more after the vaccination.
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