Next-gen Lime, Bird models are hitting WeHo streets

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The City of West Hollywood has deployed next generation Lime e-bikes for bikeshare as part of the City’s “Dockless Mobility” pilot program and plans to launch Bird’s E-Bikes in August.

Approximately 25 Lime e-bikes are currently available throughout West Hollywood each day. That number may increase to a total of 50 e-bikes as the program increases ridership in the coming months. These bikes are equipped with powerful motors to aid riders over steep inclines, phone holders, automatic two-speed transmission, and a modular design with an estimated life span of up to five years. The bikes are also powered by long-range swappable batteries that reduce van trips and save the energy otherwise required for transporting heavy vehicles. The swappable battery also improves vehicle availability for riders and reduces the number of uncharged, unusable vehicles on sidewalks.

This launch makes West Hollywood the first City in the Greater Los Angeles region and one of only four cities in California (the other three cities are Sacramento, West Sacramento, and San Diego) to have a fleet of Lime’s Gen4 E-Bikes. West Hollywood will join Culver City and San Diego as the third city in California with Bird’s brand-new fleet of shared e-bikes when they are deployed in August 2022. The Birde-assist bikes will come with several safety and sustainability features including dual hand brakes, advanced onboard diagnostics, aluminum alloy framing and a maximum range of 56 miles on a single battery charge.

The Dockless Mobility Pilot Program is part of the City of West Hollywood’s efforts to expand its transportation network by supporting a range of environmentally sustainable options to get around the City and to connect to the region-at-large. The City works regularly with residents, businesses, and the community-at-large to develop innovative solutions to transportation challenges and to balance the needs of people who walk, bike, use transit, and drive in the City of West Hollywood.

West Hollywood has been voted The Most Walkable City in California by Walk Score, a service that helps promote walkable neighborhoods across the country. Dockless Mobility devices add to the mix by assisting community members in addressing the challenge of “first-mile; last-mile” connectivity to existing transit stops and hubs in the transportation network and will help users go car-free for local neighborhood-oriented trips.

While e-scooters and e-bikes are dockless, the City of West Hollywood’s Long Range Planning Division and Parking Services Division have collaborated in the development of several designated dockless mobility device parking stations throughout the City of West Hollywood. While the City encourages the use of the stations for parking, devices may be parked in any off-street location that does not block pedestrian access to the sidewalk; devices should never be parked in a way that blocks pedestrian activity and access. The City is also working with operators to provide riders with “virtual parking stations” which will be located on a user’s mobile app.

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To use the City’s authorized e-scooters and e-bikes, BirdLime, and Wheels, individuals must create an account with the company of their choice – Bird and Lime for e-scooters and e-bikes and Wheels for Class-2 throttle assist e-bikes.

Users of e-scooters and e-bikes must have a valid driver’s license or instructional permit and are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet while riding. Helmets are required for riders 18 years old or younger. Only one person is allowed on a device at a time and e-scooters and e-bikes must be ridden on the road, never on the sidewalk. Users are advised to ride as far to the right side of traffic lane or in designated and marked bike lanes whenever possible and users must always ride in the direction of traffic. 

The City of West Hollywood oversees the management of the Dockless Mobility pilot program through a partnership with ABM, which provides industry-leading transportation and parking management services. ABM staff and Block by Block security ambassadors monitor streets and the public-right-of-way to ensure quality of life concerns are addressed, such as uninterrupted pedestrian activity and access. Concerns about dockless mobility devices may be submitted to the City using the Service Request function on the City’s website or through the West Hollywood Official City App, which is available as a free download for iPhone users on the App Store and for Android users on Google Play. Concerns and feedback may be submitted by email, as well, at parkingconcerns@weho.org or by phone at (213) 247-7720.

            For additional information about the City of West Hollywood’s Dockless Mobility Pilot Program, visit the “Mobility Planning” section of the City’s Long Range Planning webpage www.weho.org/lrp.

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CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
2 years ago

Can we add a Heart Icon and thumbs down to each post????

Westmount Dr Resident
Westmount Dr Resident
2 years ago

Very exciting to see this and I think I have the perfect solution to everyone concerned about sidewalks – take the parking lanes and one drive land from Santa Monica Bvld. Remaining lanes should be adequate for buses & emergency vehicles, as well as anyone with a qualified handicap permit. Use the parking lane for a mix of sidewalk patios for eligible businesses, drop off spots for ride share, keep one HC parking spot per block, and then move the remaining drive lane into a center median for protected bike and scooter travel.

Hair Brained Idea
Hair Brained Idea
2 years ago

Once again the City has shown it can set things in motion but has no sense of balance or the exponential problems unleashed. Foolishly adding another level of danger under the guise of entertainment cloaked in the concept of alleviating traffic. A volatile cocktail thrown into the mix oblivious to consequences.

Manny
Manny
2 years ago

Ugh! Lime is the WORST, followed closely by Wheels and Bird. Why introduce more lazy and reckless recreational motorized devices with only three months left in the scooter pilot program?…..Get a bicycle, it’s better for you. (and stay off the sidewalk)

Joe Bologna
Joe Bologna
2 years ago

Either get these obnoxious, ridiculous, useless, and dangerous things off our streets, or start arresting the morons that ride them on the sidewalk. Almost pushed one jerk over that flew by me way too fast and close on SMB.

voting
voting
2 years ago

I might support the block by block bikers if they were able to cite e-riders on the sidewalk. As it is the block by block bikers will be another nuisance and threat to pedestrians. I’ve nearly been run over on the sidewalk by block by block bikers riding in tandem, having a chat.

BG
BG
2 years ago

Ah yes, the next generation of mess and clutter on the sidewalks of West Hollywood. It’s already at the point that I have to stop and peak around the corner before merging from any block on to Santa Monica Blvd. These idiots go 15mph down a sidewalk as if it’s the open terrain of Route 66. Thanks again council for your stunning use of insight and logic.

The Latest Toys
The Latest Toys
2 years ago
Reply to  BG

The childish consciousness of the council members can only relate to the latest immature toy hence they envision West Hollywood as a free for all Skate Park/X-games/Slalom Scooters and Bikes. “But they’re the latest thing and we are leaders in everything”.

Joe Bologna
Joe Bologna
2 years ago

You said it. One hundred percent correct.

Joe Bologna
Joe Bologna
2 years ago
Reply to  BG

Let’s vote better, smarter and make WeHo awesome again like it was just a short time ago when we didn’t need garbage scooters cluttering the streets or teenagers acting as police officers. It’s such a joke.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
2 years ago

Just in time for CicLAvia on August 21st! Awesome!

Jim Nasium
Jim Nasium
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

Get out of the way!

Last edited 2 years ago by Jim Nasium
Joe Bologna
Joe Bologna
2 years ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

No, you’re awesome! (See what I did there. 😆)

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
2 years ago
Reply to  Joe Bologna

You’re so sweet. XOXO

Ham Shipey
Ham Shipey
2 years ago

These programs aren’t thought thru at all. This isn’t Amsterdam……

This town is filthy and crime ridden. No one is looking for a bike to tour around this place. Wake up!

Jimmy palmieri
Jimmy palmieri
2 years ago
Reply to  Ham Shipey

Good grief

CHLOE ROSS
CHLOE ROSS
2 years ago
Reply to  Ham Shipey

Seriously, neighbors …… Do the drivers, menaces and joyriders require driver’s licenses to operate these road worthy vehicles? Valid licenses that assure the innocent, ‘safety on the byways’ for “Oh so “gotta have it too” WeHo residents? My stupidest thought – this time, is to just keep the bars open round the clock, remove the traffic lights, hire an ‘in charge traffic operator’ and let them, follow their authentic self when it comes to stop and go traffic flow. Revenue flow? An event, What about resident funded or admission charged? By randomly stationing EMTS with equipment every few intersections, to… Read more »

The Latest Toys
The Latest Toys
2 years ago
Reply to  CHLOE ROSS

Thank you Chloe for expanding on my original thoughts. Quality of life is a concept that has passed by most of those in Weho and coupled with the City’s concept of ‘revenue at any price” is a measure for disaster. Think of Weho as a microcosm of the world at large which has become horrifying and many of its inhabitants sub human in their behavior. .

voting
voting
2 years ago

The reality is that a large number of these bikes and scooters will be ridden on sidewalks. The riders are never issued tickets or even asked to get off the sidewalk. They are a clear hazard to pedestrians and the program should be limited not expanded.

The rickety Outzones on Santa Monica Blvd. make the sidewalks nearly impassable. We do not need more Lime products on the streets/sidewalks.