Lime’s e-scooter expansion into southeast Queens has been met with impressive adoption rates since its launch on June 27. Over 23,000 residents have signed up, leading to more than 56,000 rides.
New York City’s shared e-scooter program has grown since its inception in the Bronx in August 2021. Since then, riders have taken over 2.3 million trips on Lime’s Gen4 e-scooters, accounting for 56% of the program’s 4.1 million total rides. This year, Bronx and Queens residents and visitors have taken nearly 765,102 rides through July.
Following its launch in June in southeast Queens, Lime has now expanded its fleet of Gen4 e-scooters into northeast Queens. This initiative is part of the New York City Department of Transportation’s planned growth of its shared e-scooter program.
“Lime is proud to be in Queens and excited to expand, all while we remain focused on safe riding and proper parking,” said Nicole Yearwood, Senior Manager for Government Relations at Lime. “Queens and Bronx residents have both proven that the demand for safe, affordable transportation in the form of shared e-scooters is very strong. We are devoting more and more resources every day to ensure we keep streets safe, neat and tidy while we strive to meet that demand.”
Since the launch, Lime has placed a strong emphasis on safety and proper parking. The company is currently running a multifaceted campaign to promote these values in both Queens and the Bronx. This campaign includes organic and paid social media efforts, in-app and email messages to riders, paid media and advertising and a series of in-person events. The initiative kicked off with a free ice cream giveaway in Jamaica last Friday, where Lime shared safe riding and parking information and distributed free helmets.
As part of its efforts, Lime is also adding Foot Patrol members—staff designated to patrol service zones and address misparked e-scooters. Lime’s operations team, available 24/7, uses AI-assisted technology to rebalance and fix misparked e-scooters. The company says they have tailored plans for organized parking in northeast Queens, especially Flushing, and employs Mandatory Parking Zones in high-traffic areas.
Before the launch, Lime consulted with local boards, organizations, officials, the Queens Chamber of Commerce and universities. The company says it plans to maintain ongoing communication with the community to address parking concerns and improve services.
