City Partners With Lime on COVID-19 Prevention Strategy

Brian Coddington, 509.625.6740

Friday, July 31, 2020 at 12:20 p.m.

Spokane’s WheelShare program is modifying operations over the next few weeks to reinforce the social habits that will carry Spokane safely and as quickly as possible through the phases of reopening businesses and schools.

These operational changes line up with the governor’s indefinite extension of the statewide pause on progressing through the reopening phases, limitations on bar hours, and other attempts to minimize gathering. Lime has generously offered to use its tools to help address the activities and behaviors of 20-39 year olds where Spokane County is seeing the most extreme increase in positive cases.

Beginning this weekend, Lime operations will be modified in the following ways in the City of Spokane:

  • Reduce the number of scooters from 800 to 500
  • Position Scooters in groups of 5 or less and more physically distanced in staging areas
  • Geo-fence Riverfront Park and designate use areas that encourage use for essential transportation
  • Set a curfew of 10 pm in the downtown core to mirror bar hour restrictions
  • Add a face covering requirement notification when activating a device
  • Increase push notifications promoting mask coverings requirements and best practices
  • Continue collaboration with community partners to promote public health requirements

Lime continues to take various steps to keep communities safe, including:

  • Enhanced cleaning methods and increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting scooters and bikes. All parts of the scooters and bikes that are touched by people are cleaned using products recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the Center for Biocide Chemistries list and approved by the EPA for use against the coronavirus. The most recent guidance from the CDC is that "the primary mode of transmission for COVID-19 is through close contact from person-to-person" and that surface transmission is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
  • Lime offices and warehouses are distributing hand sanitizer, masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees. All mechanics and operators in the field are required to wear gloves and wash their hands regularly.
  • Lime is following the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), federal agencies, and other global health organizations to collect the most up-to-the-minute information to ensure the protection operations are comprehensive and expedient. Based on this information, Lime will work with the City and local health officials to decide to continue, pause, or suspend operations if deemed necessary.

Additionally, Lime provides in-app reminders of health and safety best practices, including: 

  • Take precautions
    Inspect the scooter or bike to make sure the wheels, brakes, throttle, lights, and frame are all in good working condition. 
  • Hands
    Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer which is at least 60% alcohol-based when you arrive at your final destination.  Wear gloves when you can.
  • Ride solo
    Maintain a distance of at least six feet from others for safety and social distancing.
  • Pay attention
    Look for bike lanes and be aware of traffic lights, signs and remain alert for road and safety hazards.
  • Enjoy Responsibly
    Be respectful of other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and fellow scooter riders, and always wear a helmet.

Spokane’s WheelShare program, operated by Lime, was launched as a pilot program in 2018 and ran from May to November in 2019. Last year, the City and Lime worked together with local partners to support public safety while providing new transportation options for getting around Spokane. In 2019 riders logged 643,000 miles and 581,000 individual trips on the shared bicycles and scooters.