Lime passes one million rides since April launch
Mayor Richard Parker has celebrated the ‘huge appetite’ for cleaner travel as Lime claims eight out of 10 riders are new to the service, having never used Lime before in any city.
Lime replaced Beryl as the e-bike provider for West Midlands on 1 April. Lime launched initially in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull, before expanding to Sandwell and Wolverhampton on 1 June.
Lime said many riders continued using the service after their first journey, with nearly half going on to take a second trip within a week of taking their first.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Lime is making active travel an easy choice for short trips like going to work, meeting up with friends, or connecting to our wider bus, tram, and train network. This milestone shows there’s a huge appetite among residents and visitors for cleaner, greener, and more convenient ways to travel.
“Getting more people to cycle is also helping us cut traffic congestion, clean up our air, and improve people’s health and fitness. And all at zero cost to the taxpayer.”
The previous arrangement cost the authorities £1.4m a year. Lime has agreed to fix prices for the first two years.
Transport for West Midlands and its partners are aiming for at least half of all trips to be made by active modes – walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting – by 2030.
Beccy Marston, West Midlands active travel commissioner, said: “Reaching one million rides in just five months proves that when you make active travel convenient and affordable for people it quickly becomes a natural choice, especially for those without access to a private car. It’s inspiring to see so many first-time users and women are riding, making their shorter journeys healthier and more fun.”
Tom Newham, senior manager of public affairs at Lime UK&I, said: “One million rides is a brilliant early milestone, but the more important story is what those journeys say about the role of shared transport in people’s lives. Our data show Lime being used for much more than the daily commute. People are using our service to get to weekend plans, parks, city centres, and the local businesses that make the West Midlands such a vibrant place to live and visit.
“It’s a pleasure to see how seamlessly Lime has become part of people’s everyday lives, providing a convenient way to get where they need to go and fitting naturally around their routines. We are proud to be working with the West Midlands Combined Authority, Transport for West Midlands and local councils to make it easier for people to choose an affordable and sustainable way to make short journeys.”
