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E-bike and e-scooter operator Lime has recorded more than one million journeys across the West Midlands in its first five months of operation in the region.
Lime was selected by the West Midlands Combined Authority to replace Beryl as the region’s shared hire operator earlier this year, following a competitive tender.
The new contract removed the need for around £1.4m in annual public subsidy that previously supported the scheme, with Lime now operating it commercially. Transport for West Midlands has set an ambition for at least half of all journeys in the region to use active travel modes by 2030.
Tom Newham, senior manager of public affairs at Lime UK&I, said usage across the region has been strong, helping to replace car trips and support active travel. The company said 83% of riders in the West Midlands had never previously used a Lime bike in another city, and nearly half of first-time users took a second trip within a week.
The two busiest days so far were 26 and 27 June, when Birmingham temperatures reached around 33°C, with usage also spiking over the late-May bank holiday and on 14 August, when train disruption coincided with sporting events.
Lime launched in Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull on 1 April, before expanding into Sandwell and Wolverhampton in June. It currently has no plans to expand further within the region.
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