Seattle Sees Strong Bike Share, Scooter Ridership

Seattle’s shared Lime bike and scooter fleet provided over 24,000 rides per day in July — half the average number of vehicles that pass through the SR-99 tunnel that crosses downtown, writes Tom Fucoloro in Seattle Bike Blog.

Fucoloro notes that the bike and e-scooter system comes at no cost to the city — in fact, Lime pays Seattle to operate there — while the SR-99 tunnel cost $2 billion. Lime has been one of several operators in Seattle, but its growing success is pushing others out.

Fucoloro suggests that the city could benefit from a more formal public-private partnership with Lime, pointing to the effectiveness of the bike share system in Long Beach, California as an example.

Additionally, Fucoloro suggests that more on-street bike and scooter parking would double as curb extensions that improve pedestrian safety. “ Dedicating space at intersections across the city to bike and scooter parking would embrace the fact that these vehicles are an important part of our city’s transportation system while also keeping the devices out of walkways and curb ramps where they impede accessibility.”