Lime Scooters, Bikes In Renton? Locals Hate The Idea

RENTON, WA - Lime has proposed bringing dockless bikes and e-scooters to Renton, but don't expect to see the vehicles here anytime soon. City officials surveyed Renton residents about the idea, and most people seem to hate it.

"Please no!"

"No and no and no"

"Ugly mess"

Those were just a few comments from the anti-Lime folks. Sixty-three percent of the 409 Renton residents surveyed said the either mildly or strongly opposed bringing dockless bikes and scooters to town. The main concern, according to the survey, would be that the bikes and scooters would end up abandoned in "inappropriate" places.

In Seattle, Lime bikes have been found tossed in ravines and even in the Puget Sound.

Still, about 32 percent of those surveyed were in favor of bringing Lime bikes to Renton. Those in favor said they would mostly use the bikes to travel between transit stops or to the Tukwila Sounder station.

City staff will present the results of the dockless bike survey to City Council's Planning and Development Committee on Thursday.

The overall recommendation was not to go ahead with dockless vehicles. But if the Council really wants to, it should be a "limited deployment in a specific area."

"Staff recommends that the city delay any action on a bike share program at this time, and continue to follow pilot programs in other areas," the presentation concluded.

File photo by Neal McNamara/Patch