Lime is bringing another new micromobility device to Seattle, choosing the city as the location for the global debut of its new LimeGlider, a seated electric vehicle without pedals designed for easier cruising.
In an announcement Tuesday, in which the company also unveiled an improved bicycle design called LimeBike, Lime said it chose Seattle for the LimeGlider pilot because of the city’s “real commitment to sustainable transportation innovation, building protected bike lanes and supporting micromobility.”
Lime said Seattle has a highly engaged rider community and a varied mix of terrain that are ideally suited for LimeGlider. The company has been serving Seattle — its oldest active market — since July 2017. Nearly 2 million riders have taken over 12.7 million total rides, according to the company
With a green and black color scheme, the LimeGlider is a departure from Lime’s traditional white and green look. The company bills it as “the seated comfort of a bike with the effortlessness of a scooter.” A larger padded seat is positioned closer to the ground to provide a lower center of gravity for riders.
Wheels previously operated a fleet of similar sit-down-style scooters in Seattle.
The new LimeBike comes just a few months after Lime tested a previous update on it electric bikes, with a throttle, in Seattle. The new bikes will also feature such a handlebar throttle, giving riders the option to either pedal with electric assist or use the throttle to move. The bike’s adjustable seat lever has also been tweaked to make it easier for riders to change seat heights.
Lime is currently piloting LimeBike in Atlanta and will launch LimeGlider in Seattle in mid-August, with a pilot in Zurich, Switzerland, for both vehicles anticipated in late summer.
Lime and Bird both operate e-bikes and e-scooters in Seattle as part of the City’s Scooter and Bike Share program, run by the Seattle Department of Transportation.
Lime provides shared e-bikes and e-scooters in 280 cities in nearly 30 countries. The company says its success globally is “powered by cities like Seattle,” where residents and visitors took over 3.1 million rides on Lime vehicles in 2023 — a 50% jump compared to 2022.