Commuters in New Westminster looking for alternative transportation will have another option starting this month.
The city announced on Tuesday, Aug. 6, that Lime e-bikes will soon be available to rent. No official start date has been revealed, as of this publication, Aug. 7.
E-bikes will be available from designated parking areas across New West, starting with 20 locations in the downtown and uptown neighbourhoods, the city said.
Another 40 locations are expected to be added "over the coming months."
“I’m excited that the City of New Westminster is able to make e-bikes more accessible for residents and visitors," Mayor Patrick Johnstone said in a news release.
"Increasing access to active transportation in our community, not just through enhancing the network but also by providing shared micro-mobility services like this, is both a strategic and climate action priority for us.
"We are proud to partner with Lime in bringing e-bike share to New Westminster."
New West's Active Transportation Network Plan identified e-bike's as a key support. A feasibility study was conducted last year with council endorsing the service implementation plan in January of this year.
The bikes can be used on multi-use pathways, park trails, bike lanes and any roads where bikes are permitted in the city.
"New Westminster has long embraced active transportation, with its extensive network of transit hubs, cycling infrastructure, and multi-use pathways," Lime spokesperson Sonia Kandola added.
"We believe that Lime's state-of-the-art e-bikes will perfectly complement this multimodal community, making urban travel even easier. Whether it's your daily commute, meeting friends, or grabbing a tuna melt from your favourite lunch place, we're thrilled to launch Lime in New Westminster."
Lime currently operates in five other B.C. communities, the most in Canada, including Coquitlam, Vancouver, Richmond, North Vancouver and Kelowna.
