Building H Index

 

Lime

 
 

INDUSTRY

transportation

Category

mobility services

products Profiled

Lime micromobility(1) rental service

 
 

H-Score

 

68

ranked 1st (tie) of 7 within transportation industry

ranked 4th (tie) of 37 overall

 
 

product description

 

Lime offers access to shared dockless electric bikes, electric scooters and electric mopeds through a smartphone app. 

 

product usage

 

After downloading the app and setting up an account, users are given a map interface and can select from available e-bikes, electric scooters and mopeds. Users (presumably) walk to the location of their selected vehicle, ride the vehicle to their destination, and park it. Users pay on a per trip basis. Lime also offers a premium subscription service that reduces the per trip fees in exchange for paying a monthly fee. Lime is also integrated with Google Maps and transit planning app Moovit. Users of those services can access and reserve Lime vehicles directly through their maps.

 
 

influence on health-related behaviors

 
 

EATING

neutral influence

 

There is no obvious connection between the use of Lime’s service and a user’s eating habits.

 
 

PHYSICAL ACTVITY

slight positive influence

 

Lime’s influence on physical activity is based on the degree to which its users use its service in addition to or as a substitute for car travel, which requires less physical activity. Lime’s three modes -- e-bikes, electric scooters and electric mopeds -- offer different levels of activity, with e-bikes requiring the most activity. (Note that Lime uses e-assist bikes that require pedaling.) Lime has reported some data on the mix of modes used: In Seattle, during a study period, 27% of rides were by scooter-only users, 43% by bike-only users and 30% by multimodal users.(2)

Lime has indicated that 70% of its users (worldwide) have reduced their use of cars, taxis or ridesharing.(3)  In addition to Lime’s data, two industry analyses of scooter and bike share use indicate a significant displacement of automobile trips: 40-45% of scooter trips are in place of taxi, rideshare or personal auto. On the other hand, the studies showed 27-28% replaced walking.(4,5)

 

opportunities:

  • Expand access to bike share service.
 
 

Sleeping

neutral to slight positive influence

 

Lime’s service has no obvious direct effects on sleeping, although to the extent that it influences physical activity and time spent outdoors, it could indirectly influence sleep as both of those behaviors are positively correlated with better sleep. 

 
 

Engaging Socially

slight to moderate positive influence

 

To the extent that Lime facilitates people leaving their homes by providing multiple low-cost transportation options, it could lead to casual social interactions, which have been shown to have a positive effect on mental health.

The open-air nature of all of its transportation modes makes it easier for riders to see, recognize, and stop to greet other people along the way than if they were traveling by car.

Lime reports that 18% of scooter trips and 13% of bike trips (worldwide) are for social purposes.(6)

In addition, Lime has started offering Lime Tours -- curated routes -- in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with the explicit purpose of getting people outside and gathering socially.(7)

 

opportunities:

  • Promote (through discounts or other means) riding in pairs or groups.
 
 

Getting Outdoors

moderate to strong positive influence

 

To the extent that Lime facilitates people leaving their homes by providing multiple low-cost transportation options, it could lead to casual social interactions, which have been shown to have a positive effect on mental health.

The open-air nature of all of its transportation modes makes it easier for riders to see, recognize, and stop to greet other people along the way than if they were traveling by car.

Lime reports that 18% of scooter trips and 13% of bike trips (worldwide) are for social purposes.(8) 

In addition, the Lime Tours available in selected cities have the explicit purpose of getting people outside and gathering socially.

 
 
 
 

Notes

 

  1. “Micromobility” refers to a range of personal vehicles ridden at speeds of approximately 15 mph or less.

  2. Lime. 2020 End of Year Report, p. 31. 

  3. Ibid. P. 7.

  4. North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association. 2020 Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report. August 5, 2020

  5. National Association of City Transportation Officials. Shared Micromobility in the U.S. 2019.

  6. Lime. 2020 End of Year Report, p. 31.

  7. Lime Launches Lime Tours in Select Markets. 2nd Street (Lime blog), August 30, 2021

  8. Lime. 2020 End of Year Report, p. 31.