Courtesy Lime
Lime has expanded its Gen4 e-scooter fleet building on its earlier success in southeast Queens and contributing to the NYC DOT’s e-scooter program.
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Lime, a leading provider of shared electric vehicles, has expanded its Gen4 e-scooter fleet into northeast Queens, following a successful launch in southeast Queens earlier this summer. The expansion is part of the New York City Department of Transportation’s broader initiative to grow its shared e-scooter program, which has seen significant ridership and a solid safety record since its inception in August 2021.
Since Lime’s launch in Queens on June 27, the company has reported nearly 23,000 new signups and over 56,000 rides.
“Lime is proud to be in Queens and excited to expand all while we remain focused on safe riding and proper parking,” Nicole Yearwood, Senior Manager for Government Relations said. “Queens and Bronx residents have both proven that the demand for safe, affordable, transportation in the form of shared e-scooters is very strong. We are devoting more and more resources every day to ensure we keep streets safe, neat, and tidy while we strive to meet that demand. Eastern Queens is uniquely suited to benefit from the first and last-mile connections our shared e-scooters provide and we’re already seeing people use them to connect to the subways, buses, and LIRR stations. While we launch we are taking in as much feedback as possible from the community in order to provide the best service possible for all road users, especially our riders, pedestrians, cyclists, and other sustainable transportation users,”
The company is currently running a comprehensive parking campaign across Queens and the Bronx to ensure proper parking practices. This initiative includes organic and paid social media, in-app and email messages to riders, and a series of in-person events. The campaign kicked off with a free ice cream giveaway in Jamaica, Queens, where Lime also distributed helmets and shared safety information.
Lime’s approach to parking in northeast Queens involves a multi-pronged strategy. The company’s operations team, supported by AI-assisted end-trip photo technology, is available 24/7 to address and rebalance misparked vehicles. Lime has also implemented Mandatory Parking Zones in high-traffic areas to maintain order on the streets.
Lime launched with detailed plans in place to run a neat and tidy program, with custom deployment and parking plans tailored to the neighborhood.
Communication with riders is central to Lime’s strategy, with ongoing efforts to educate users on proper parking. Lime leverages its global experience, running programs in 280 cities across five continents, to tailor its approach to the specific needs of Queens. Riders are informed of parking rules through in-app messages, emails, and social media, and repeat offenders face potential fines or bans from the platform.
Lime emphasizes the importance of community feedback in refining its service. The company engaged with local stakeholders, including community boards, service organizations, and educational institutions, before launching in Queens. This dialogue continues as Lime gathers input on areas needing focused parking enforcement.
“We will always have an ear to the ground in Queens and we will never stop working to improve our service,” a Lime representative said.
Lime’s e-scooter program in New York City, which began in the Bronx in August 2021, has seen over 2.3 million trips in that borough alone, accounting for 56% of the program’s total rides. The program’s expansion into Queens marks another step in increasing sustainable transportation options across the city.
Courtesy Lime
Since launching in Queens, Lime has seen nearly 23,000 new signups and over 56,000 rides and is actively promoting safe parking practices through a comprehensive campaign.
