Boulder Renews Contract with BCycle and Lime, Expands Shared Micromobility Program

BOULDER, Colo. - Following a competitive bid process, the City of Boulder has renewed its contract with BCycle and Lime to provide shared micromobility options citywide in support of convenient, equitable and sustainable travel for people of all abilities.

The public-private partnership with these two operators saw over 1.6 million rides in 2025, helping close transportation gaps and reducing hundreds of thousands of car trips as a flexible alternative to driving, for both daily community travel patterns and during high-congestion travel windows like large events.

The program update is informed by data on usage, citywide goals, and parking and community input. This includes prior community engagement and a bilingual questionnaire conducted in late 2025. Key themes of community input from riders and non-riders include: program policies must be equitable to incentivize sustainable travel; improperly parked devices can create travel obstacles; and safety is a priority for both riders and non-riders.

"Boulder is a great walking city, especially because of the availability of BCycle and Lime," said Transportation and Mobility Director, Blythe Bailey. "Scooter and bike share provide a convenient way for pedestrians to go a little farther than they planned and make active transportation more practical and flexible for more people."

More Accessible Mobility Options

Beginning in mid-August, Boulder will gradually introduce LimeGliders - a seated, electric scooter. The addition of more seated options to Boulder's shared micromobility fleet supports greater accessibility and provides riders with expanded choices.

The new LimeGliders will primarily serve neighborhoods near city limits, which are often further from key destinations and currently have fewer shared micromobility options. Lime will rebalance the fleet daily to provide consistent service in these key areas, with LimeGliders scaling up to 200 devices over the coming months. The existing Lime e-scooter fleet of 900 will not change. The city will monitor key performance metrics to ensure the new vehicles are advancing program and citywide goals.

BCycle is also going to expand its program with additional stations, and in the coming years will begin phasing in new e-bikes that feature longer range, in dock charging, and improved rider comfort. This will increase access, enhance the rider experience, and refine management and operations.

Additionally, there will be 25% discounts for Lime rides starting in high-frequency transit areas, and LimeAccess will continue to offer free 30-minute rides for income-qualified riders to support equitable travel options.

Expanded Mandatory Parking Updates

Central Boulder, which sees the highest Lime ridership, will become a larger mandatory parking zone (MPZ) following the installation of additional designated parking corrals over the coming months. Boulder's current MPZs have improved parking compliance when paired with the installation of parking corrals as well as warnings and fines for noncompliance. This expansion will extend those benefits while creating a more intuitive rider experience.

Safety and Courtesy Reminders

LimeGliders and Lime e-scooters are both classified as Electric Scooters and are subject to the same city rules:

• Lime uses location-based technology to support safe and responsible use, preventing devices from operating in no-go zones, requiring parking in designated areas called "Lime Groves" within the city's busiest areas within MPZs, and limiting speeds to 15 mph, with lower automated speed limits in designated slow zones.
• One person per ride; riders must be at least 18 years old.
• Devices are allowed on roads, bike lanes and multi-use paths. Riding on sidewalks is not permitted if there is a bike lane or if the street has a speed limit of 20 mph or less.
• Park responsibly in designated spaces or upright - never blocking paths, crosswalks, bus stops, ramps and driveways.
• Follow all rules of the road. Always yield to pedestrians. Keep right, pass left with an audible alert.
• To report misuse or improper parking, contact Lime directly online or through the contact information posted on every device. Lime will respond to reports within two hours.

As more people travel on these types of small-scale devices, shared or personal, the city is also continuing the Share the Path campaign to encourage safe, courteous travel for all users of Boulder's shared paths and streets.

Learn more about Shared Micromobility or download the Lime app or BCycle app to start riding.