Global urban mobility brand Lime has launched its smart, dock-free electric bikes in Australia, releasing a fleet of iridescent vehicles onto the streets of Sydney.

With a commitment to improving city living and urban transportation infrastructure, Lime has expanded to more than 130 markets, clocking 17+ million rides in just 18 months. 

An initial 300 bikes have been distributed within the Sydney city centre; with Lime set to gradually increasing product availability in response to market demand. 

The electric bikes are premium electric mobility products, well-suited to the demographics within the Sydney community and designed to accommodate all types of terrain found across the city’s landscape. 

Lime Director of Government Affairs and Strategy in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Mitchell Price said Lime has worked closely with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure the bikes compliment Sydney’s existing transport network and to make sure risks and safety concerns have been carefully considered and mitigated prior to launch.

“Lime’s electric bikes have become hugely popular in cities, similar to Sydney, such as Seattle, whose community is looking for cleaner, cheaper and more accessible transportation,” Mr Price said. 

“The advantage of our electric bikes is they work together with existing public transit by increasing the accessibility of public transport so people can rely less on personal cars. 

“Sydney’s need for innovative transport solutions, which cater to the first and last mile, gives us confidence we will see high uptake of Lime electric bikes within the community,” he said. 

The bikes contain a lithium battery, which is replaced every two days by operational staff, and allows users to ride at speeds up to 23.8km/h, even when faced with hilly terrain. 

A local team of 50 operations specialists and mechanics have been employed in Sydney to respond to all customer enquiries and facilitate positive interactions with the bikes. 

Local employment was a key aspect of the Sydney launch to provide jobs and support for the local economy. 

The Sydney launch is Lime’s latest venture in its expedition down under, having already launched a three-month electric scooter pilot at Monash University in Melbourne earlier this week. 

Brisbane and Melbourne are set to be next on Lime’s agenda, with the company currently in conversation with local authorities to introduce electric scooters in both cities. 

In addition to the launch, Lime is investing more than $US3 million globally to reinforce the importance of rider safety and responsibility as part of its campaign: ‘Respect the Ride’. 

This global campaign overarches all Lime activities to encourage and remind Lime users to prioritise safety. 

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