Following the successful pilot of a shared micro-mobility program in fall 2021, Lime e-scooters will be more widely available starting this August. There are currently 275 scooters available east of 28th Street, but the phased expansion will bump that number up to 600 initially, and then later to 900. The expansion will allow them to operate across approximately three times the pilot program area within city limits, excluding designated “no-go zones.”
In spring 2023, City Council gave the city of Boulder’s transportation and mobility team the green light to expand the Lime e-scooter program citywide with a phased and iterative approach.
“By providing shared e-scooters and e-bikes, our micro-mobility program aims to make it easier for our community to get around town, bringing the city closer to its transportation and climate goals to provide travel choices and support clean air,” said City of Boulder Transportation and Mobility Director Natalie Stiffler. “We're excited to bring this convenient transportation option to the whole city.”
CU Boulder’s micro-mobility and pathway safety committees, in consultation with campus administration and following the collection of significant stakeholder feedback, closely evaluated where the scooters should be allowed. Not all corridors across Main Campus will be accessible, but most major thoroughfares will be part of the expanded footprint. Other CU properties including East Campus will be managed as they were in the pilot.
“We continue to expand our sustainable transportation offerings as part of our overall sustainability goals,” said Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Sustainability Chris Ewing. “Four of our Buff Buses are electric, we offer a vanpool program, BCycle is very popular with our students, and now e-scooters will be an option to get to, from and around campus.”
“Our hope is that by expanding access to more forms of transportation we will empower more of our CU community to go car-free or to forego hopping in an Uber or Lyft for short trips,” said sustainable transportation specialist Clark Rider.
The city of Boulder and CU Boulder prioritize safety for the e-scooter program. In order to ensure scooters are parked properly and don’t block pathways and access points, parking will be limited to distinct “Lime Groves” (e-scooter parking areas), meaning that a trip cannot be ended in the app unless parked within the grove. Lime Grove locations will optimize access without overwhelming narrow pathways and access to dense areas of campus.
Speed limits will be set to 8 mph when on campus and planned safety outreach includes helmet distribution. Each scooter is also equipped with headlights, tail lights and other security features.
Standard scooter prices include a $1 unlock fee, plus 35 cents per minute. For those who ride more often, the LimePrime monthly unlock pass costs $5.99, and $16.99 day passes are ideal for those taking multiple trips a day.
The additional Lime e-scooters will be available for use beginning Aug. 15.
