TransportationUrbanized

Everything you need to know about using Lime Scooters in Calgary

DH Calgary Staff
DH Calgary Staff
|
Jul 17 2019, 1:41 am
Everything you need to know about using Lime Scooters in Calgary

Calgarians may have noticed that some additions to their sidewalks, bike paths, and streets have appeared overnight.

Don’t be afraid to approach those bright green scooters that are scattered around the city — they’re actually meant to be used by just about anyone, as long as you’ve got the app and pay the right price.

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The electric Lime Scooters are part of the city’s new bike share pilot project, which has approved hundreds of the electric-assist bicycles to be used by Calgarians and visitors alike.

This past weekend, the electric scooters were introduced as a complement to the existing bikes, bringing in an initial fleet of 300, though the number of scooters is expected to expand to 1,000 over the coming week.

The scooters are unfortunately not coin-operated, however, so there a few hoops you’ll have to jump through before being able to rip around town on one of them.

Here’s everything you need to know in order to use one of Calgary’s new Lime Scooters:

  1. Get the app. Yes, it sucks having to cram yet another app into the pitifully small amount of storage space you have remaining. No, the app will not charge you a monthly or yearly fee. Yes, you will have to supply your credit card information.
  2. Find a scooter. You can do so by either using the app to pinpoint your location and where the nearest slice of lime appears — or go full-on old school and walk around downtown until you spot one of the soon-to-be-familiar green sights.
  3. Scan the barcode. The app will prompt you to “Scan To Ride” (after you buy $10 to $50 worth of credits, that is) and pressing the button allows you to scan the black and white code on the back of a locked scooter to unlock said scooter and start your ride.
  4. Get going. Hop on and start moving! To start the scooter, you need to give it a kick to get it going initially, then press down the throttle on the right-hand side. Keep in mind that all rides cost an initial $1, and another $0.30 for every minute that follows.

5. Lock up in a location that abides by the following guidelines:

Where you can leave your Lime Scooter:

Here’s where Lime’s website states that you can end your ride in Calgary (the wording is actually about the Lime Bikes, but we’re sure it’s the same for scooters!):

Parking is authorized only on city property. Whenever possible, please park in the area of the sidewalk closest to the curb where street lights, waste receptacles, trees and ParkPlus pay machines are located in order to keep pedestrian traffic unobstructed. All parked [scooters] must remain in an upright position with both wheels in contact with the ground. [Scooters] must be parked in a way that leaves at least 2.0 metres of unobstructed space for pedestrian movements.

[Scooters] can be parked within city parks within 1m along either side of a pathway. They can be parked along the Eau Claire and Riverwalk promenades, the shared use space along the south side of the Bow River from the Elbow River Traverse to 10 St. SW, provided that they do not impede pedestrian access to furniture (benches, garbage cans, information signs, etc.).

You’ll be able to find out how much battery is left in each e-scooter by checking in the app, and a fully charged Lime will be able to run for about 60 km before needing another charge.

Some Calgarians have already taken full advantage of the new transportation option over the past few days, showcasing their experiences on social media.

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DH Calgary StaffDH Calgary Staff
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