Soon, residents of Surrey and Vancouver may start noticing an increased presence of e-bikes and e-scooters on the streets.

Lime, a leading micromobility company, has proposed to offer electric scooter and bike sharing services in Surrey. It’s also preparing to put forward a similar proposal in Vancouver.

In an interview with Global News, Lime CEO Wayne Ting explained how the company’s mission is to promote eco-friendly transportation alternatives. Ting highlighted the potential of shared micromobility devices to lessen reliance on private cars.

Lime already operates public e-scooter and e-bike sharing programs in North Vancouver, Coquitlam, Richmond, and Kelowna. Globally, it’s active in over 280 cities, making it the largest service of its kind.

Lime has had few problems with burglary. Since the bikes and scooters have the company’s logo on them, they are of little value to crooks.

Most complaints surrounding Lime’s programs are related to improper parking and device abandonment. However, the company has implemented measures to deter such behaviour.

Lime riders are required to submit photos of their parked vehicles. If the vehicles are incorrectly parked, riders receive fines and warnings. Continued violations lead to a lifetime ban from Lime’s services.

Lime has also created technology to ensure that its devices comply with speed limit laws.

The government of British Columbia initiated a pilot project in 2021 to regulate e-scooter use. Several municipalities, including Vancouver, are participating in the program.

Specific regulations in Vancouver include a maximum speed limit of 24 km/h, a ban on riding on sidewalks, and an expectation for riders to use side streets and separated bike lanes.

Although Surrey’s request for proposals has closed, the timeline for Vancouver’s launch of a similar program is yet to be determined.

British Columbia is quickly emerging as the micromobility capital of Canada. In May, the provincial government announced rebates of up to $1,400 for new e-bike purchases.

Image Source: Transport Nottingham, https://shorturl.at/bEV19