Lime to expand e-bike hire service area to Westport

Lime, the world’s largest shared e-scooter and e-bike operator, has today announced the planned expansion of its Castlebar e-bike hire scheme to Westport later this month, which will provide a green and alternative transport option to the town’s 5,000 residents.

Lime have said they are looking forward to extending their service to the coast, offering greener ways to travel for commuting, leisure and tourism.

The news follows the success and positive reception to the service in Castlebar, which became the first Irish town to welcome Lime’s shared e-bikes last year in a 12-month long pilot scheme. Since the launch, Castlebar riders have taken 22,000 e-bike rides, with the number expected to rise to 25,000 this July.

An estimated 40 percent of Castlebar’s population have ridden Lime since their launch, and have already travelled over 40,000 kilometres on the e-bikes to date. Ireland was the 36th country to have launched Lime’s vehicles globally, with the provider operating services in 250 plus cities around the world. It is the only provider serving all major European capitals including London, Paris, Madrid, and Rome, as well as major US cities such as New York and Washington DC.

Lizzy Day, Operations Manager in the UK and Ireland at Lime said: “We’ve had an incredible reception to Lime in Castlebar so far and are delighted to be able to expand our offering to a further town in Ireland. Since launching in Castlebar, Lime has become an integral transport option for many residents as they commute, run errands and look to connect with friends. We hope that Westport residents adopt the same level of enthusiasm with the service area expansion. Working with Mayo County Council, we will continue to provide and encourage these options as we look to motivate more people out of cars for journeys under five miles.”

Fergal O'Malley from the Castlebar Municipal District of Mayo County Council added: “Lime has been a great success in Castlebar, and it is encouraging to see such positive numbers for the town. E-bikes are a powerful mode of transport, and I would encourage the community to always wear a helmet and ride responsibly. We hope to see the same enthusiasm for Lime in our neighbouring town Westport and wish them and Lime every success.”

To use the e-bikes in both towns, riders will need to pay an initial unlock fee of €1 with a charge of 15 cent per minute for the rest of the ride. Lime is working with Mayo County Council to establish parking zones to ensure that the bikes are always parked responsibly and avoid pavement obstructions. Lime continues to work closely with Mayo County Council to ensure that its service provides a safe and sustainable option for both riders and pedestrians in the area.

Lime will be consulting with a range of stakeholders in Westport throughout the pilot to ensure that appropriate safety precautions are in place. The company also welcomes any relevant local organisations, who want to reach out and join these discussions.