Lime Eases Financial Squeeze for Low-Income Customers

Melbourne, VIC

Long-standing micromobility share scheme operator Lime last month launched two social equity programs in Australian cities – a discounted ride program for Health Care Card holders and a free-ride initiative to encourage COVID vaccinations.

The discounted ride scheme, dubbed Lime Access, provides low-income earners with discounts of at least 50% to use its share e-bikes and e-scooters In Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast.

Anyone with a Health Care Card is eligible to apply for Lime Access by visiting the company’s website. Lime says it will work with local community groups and councils to add further eligibility, so equitable access is available to as many people as possible.

The Lime Access discount will take the cost down as far as $1.85 for a journey of 2km.

In a statement issued by Lime, the company says it launched Lime Access to remove barriers to mobility for lower-income users.

The announcement comes as Lime celebrates nearly three years in Australia.

Lime is also incorporating Australia and New Zealand into its Ride to Recovery initiative, a global push to encourage people to get vaccinated in a bid to help cities get moving again.

“The Ride to Recovery initiative has been helping users get to and from their vaccine appointments in cities all over the world, by ensuring transportation is not a barrier in getting vaccinated,” Lime’s statement says.

“Riders can upload their vaccination booking confirmation on Lime’s portal to receive two free rides (up to 15 minutes each) in order to travel to and from their appointment. Lime will also continue to communicate helpful vaccine information to its users via in-app messaging and on its owned channels.”

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp welcomed the two initiatives, to help reopen Melbourne from COVID and increase accessibility around the city.

“Whether it’s helping you get to one of our vaccination centres or exploring our wonderful parks, our partnership with Lime is making our city a more accessible place,” she said.

Lime Access’s introduction to Australia has also been praised by a Melbourne organisation using bicycles to assist young people and boost their employment prospects.

Good Cycles CEO Jaison Hoernel said: “Reliable and accessible transport is critical to breaking the cycles of disadvantage and supporting pathways to employment.”

Good Cycles is a Melbourne city based social enterprise that has the contract to maintain Lime’s share fleet.