Shared e-scooters and e-bikes — known as micromobility — provide a fun and convenient way to get around Boulder without a car and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.

The City of Boulder provides shared e-scooters and e-bikes through the Shared Micromobility Program, in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder County, the Boulder Chamber, Lime and BCycle.

Not all e-micromobility is the same. What you ride changes where you ride.

Which wheels go where?

Check out this handy chart to learn where different e-micromobility devices can be used in Boulder.

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A chart of different e-micromobility devices and where they can be used in the City of Boulder

    Can be used on all streets, in bike lanes, on multi-use paths and on sidewalks outside dismount zones.

    They are not allowed on Open Space and Mountain Parks trails, except for people experiencing disabilities.

    Can be used on residential streets and only in the bike lane on all other streets. They can also be used on multi-use paths and on sidewalks outside dismount zones.

    Can be used on residential streets and only in the bike lane on all other streets. If no bike lane exists, e-scooters can be used on sidewalks, except in dismount zones). They can also be used on multi-use paths.

    Can only be ridden in the street, with the flow of traffic. They cannot be ridden in bike lanes or on sidewalks or multi-use paths.

    Dismount Zones

    All devices cannot be ridden in designated dismount zones, except for accessibility purposes.

    Dismount zones are located in downtown Boulder and University Hill to reduce conflicts in areas with high pedestrian traffic and better support multimodal travel connections.

    Shared E-scooter Program

    Learn about 5 Key Community Findings and proposed next steps for shared e-scooters.

    The pilot period for the program has ended. In Aug. 18, 2021, the one-year e-scooter pilot program launched in East Boulder, east of 28th Street, to provide non-vehicular travel options for employees, students and residents. Using e-scooter usage data and community feedback, staff are developing an e-scooter evaluation report to guide the program's future.

    Timeline

    • Nov. 14 Staff present the evaluation report draft to the Transportation Advisory Board for input
    • Jan. 5, 2023 Staff present the evaluation report draft to City Council for input
    • Early 2023 Staff finalize the evaluation report with board and council input and begin the next steps for the e-scooter program

    How to use a Lime e-scooter

    Download the Lime app

    Download the Lime app to start using a Lime e-scooter.

    Find your nearest scooter on the map

    Scan the QR code to unlock the scooter

    Ride!

    Put one foot on, kick off with the other and gently press the throttle to accelerate. Follow all traffic laws and take caution around pedestrians during your trip.

    Park the e-scooter upright

    Park upright on the sidewalk, near a bike rack or near a curb. Trips ending on CU Boulder property must be parked at specific parking hubs shown in the Lime app.

    Park responsibly – don't block pedestrian walkways, crosswalks, car doors, bus stops or sidewalk ramps.

    Follow the Lime app instructions and take a photo to end the ride

    E-Scooter Frequently Asked Questions

    Lime e-scooters can be found in designated zones in East Boulder (east of 28th Street) on/near sidewalks and in commercial areas. Use the Lime app to find locations of available e-scooters.

    View a map of the program area.

    View a map of the program area.

    Lime e-scooters can be ridden in East Boulder, east of 28th Street and south of Jay Road, including on CU Boulder’s East Campus and at Williams Village.

    There is limited access to CU Boulder’s Main Campus allowed to help students, faculty and staff move between East Campus and Williams Village to CU Boulder’s Main Campus. Riders to Main Campus can use three riding paths with geofenced e-scooter parking zones, which are painted green. All parking on CU Boulder campuses is geofenced and can be viewed on the Lime app.

    E-scooters are geofenced and will shut down if taken outside the program area.

    Which Wheels Go Where Chart

    E-scooters should be ridden in the bike lane when a bike lane is available. They can also be used on most multi-use paths.

    If no bike lane is available, e-scooters can be used in the street (with traffic) or on the sidewalk. Travel with caution on sidewalks, use the bell when passing others and always yield to pedestrians.

    E-scooters follow the same rules as e-bikes on Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) land and are not allowed on OSMP trails or paved multi-use trails.

    Yes. When riding in the bike lane or in the street, all e-scooter users must follow traffic laws including stopping at stop signs and waiting for the green light to cross intersections.

    Always travel with traffic, never against traffic.

    Lime e-scooters can be used between 6 a.m. – 11 p.m.

    E-scooters can be parked upright on sidewalks, near bike racks or near curbs. Park responsibly – don't block pedestrian walkways, crosswalks, car doors, bus stops or sidewalk ramps.

    Lime trips ending on CU Boulder properties must be parked in specific parking zones shown in the Lime app.

    No.

    The e-scooters have a top speed of 15 mph.

    Lime analyzed e-scooter trips between March 2019 and February 2020 and found that 99.9% of these Lime e-scooter trips were incident-free, with riders not reporting a single injury. That means 1 out of every 1.1 million rides resulted in severe injury or fatality.

    Remember these safety tips:

    • Use the bell when passing on the left

    • Signal turns with your hand, if possible

    • Always yield to pedestrians

    • Be 18+ years old to ride

    • Ride predictably and defensively

    • Ride solo and sober

    • Be aware of potholes, puddles and uneven surfaces

    Learn more about how to use a Lime scooter safely.

    Safety is a priority for the e-scooter program. The city and CU Boulder are taking the following steps to promote safe e-scooter use:

    • The e-scooters will be deployed in zones that allow for clear, unobstructed passage of pedestrians on/near sidewalks and in commercial areas and that do not impede Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility or the boarding or departure of transit users.

    • The e-scooters will be geofenced, meaning they will shut down if users try to take them out of designated areas.

    • Lime is required to collect all e-scooters and replace them at deployment zones daily.

    • For first-time riders, Lime e-scooters automatically start with Lime’s Training Mode, a feature designed to make the first ride safer, smoother and more comfortable. Training Mode reduces maximum speed to just 8 miles per hour, so riders can get a feel for using e-scooters at a comfortable speed.

    • The e-scooters have a speed limit of 15 mph and can only be used from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

    • Riders are encouraged to always wear a helmet. Lime provides discounted helmets.

    $1 unlock and $.35 per minute and new Lime Access (low income program) pricing of $.50 unlock and $.15 a minute.

    Lime Access provides discounted fares to qualifying riders in the United States and access to Lime scooters for people without smartphones or credit cards.

    E-scooters can help Boulder reach its transportation goals to reduce vehicle trips and greenhouse gases by making it easier to get around without a car, especially for short trips. In September 2020, Boulder City Council voted to allow a dockless e-scooter company to operate in the city. In March 2021, the city issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for operators and selected Lime. Bid requests were reviewed by the city, CU Boulder and Boulder County for alignment with community goals.

    East Boulder was chosen because it’s one of the top employment centers in the city, with more than 16,000 jobs located there, and is also home to CU Boulder’s East Campus and popular commercial areas. The program area also covers several traditionally underserved neighborhoods.

    Lime collects all e-scooters and replaces them at deployment zones daily.

    There are currently 300 shared Lime e-scooters operating in Boulder. The number of scooters is regulated based on demand. If there are two trips per vehicle per day for two weeks in a row, the supply may increase to meet the community’s needs.

    The city has evaluated the pilot program after one year of operation. Proposed changes include expanding access to other areas of Boulder. This may include hybrid systems for scooter parking, geofencing to limit speed, and other additional tools to manage safety and traffic.

    If it is not an emergency, such as if you are not injured, call the Boulder Police non-emergency line: 303-441-3333.

    If you are injured, call 911 (if calling from a cell phone on CU’s campus tell the dispatcher that you are on campus so CU Police Department can be dispatched). Any incident that involves actual physical contact or injury should be reported to CU Police Department if on campus, or Boulder Police. Please also report your crash or injury with Lime. Submit a report online or call 1-888-546-3345.

    Report an Issue

    Report an issue with a Lime e-scooter

    All Lime e-scooter issues (including broken e-scooters, misparked e-scooters and safety/access issues) should be reported directly to Lime through the channels below. Contact info is also posted on all e-scooters.

    • Phone: 1-888-LIME-345
    • Email: support@li.me
    • Text: 1 (888)-546-3345
    • In Lime app: Rapid Reporting Feature (for riders and non-riders)
    • On Twitter: Tag @_LimeAid

    Report a Close Call

    Use the Close Call form to report a close call while riding an e-scooter or with an e-scooter. Your feedback helps us identify trouble spots both in the city and on CU Boulder property.

    BCycle

    Boulder BCycle Bike Share

    The City of Boulder partners with BCycle to provide a bike share program in Boulder. The program includes e-bikes and has stations across the city.

    Downlad the BCycle app to get riding!

    How to use a BCycle bike

    Check out a bike

    Visit a BCycle station and follow the instructions to check out a bike. You can also check out a bike using the BCycle app. To check out an e-bike, you must use the BCycle app.

    Find a bike near you

    There are more than 40 bike share stations conveniently located around the city — and more are on the way!

    View the map of BCycle stations.

    Ride!

    Take any bike out for a short trip.

    Return

    Drop off the bike to any station.

    Repeat

    Until your pass expires.

    How to ride a BCycle e-bike safely

    Check out an e-bike

    Visit a BCycle station and use the BCycle app to check out an e-bike.

    Ride where e-bikes are allowed

    E-bikes are permitted on most multi-use paths within the city of Boulder.

    Follow the speed limit

    • Comply with the 15 mph speed limit on multi-use paths

    Pass safely

    • Keep right, pass left
    • Always yield to pedestrians
    • Give an audible alert before passing

    Background

    The City of Boulder's Transportation Master Plan sets out a roadmap for a future that is shared and electric to meet our transportation and climate goals.

    Micromobility can help us get there. It refers ways of getting around for smaller-scale travel — like scooters, skateboards and bikes. Shared services and connected technology provide more travel choices to more people. They help reduce single-occupant car trips by filling gaps in our transportation network, such as the distance between bus stops and homes, offices and schools.

    In October 2020, City Council supported city staff's recommendation to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select operator(s) to provide e-scooters and e-bikes for a new Shared Micromobility Program in the city. City staff issued the RFP in March 2021 with the goal of initiating a new program in summer 2021.