Electric-Assist LimeBikes Hit Seattle Streets

SEATTLE, WA - Dockless bike-share provider LimeBike will add 500 electric-assist bicycles to its fleet this week, which will give users a boost tackling some of Seattle's steeper hills. LimeBike is the first of the three local dockless bike-share companies to offer electric-assist bikes.

The Lime-E bikes cost $1 to unlock and then 10 cents per minute, compared to about $1 per hour for non-electric bikes. The Lime-E bikes come equipped with electric motors, which can reach speeds of 14.5 MPH. The bikes can travel up to 62 miles before needing a re-charge.

Seattle is the first of LimeBike's 45 markets to get electric-assist bikes, and will have the most available, according to the company. Renting an e-bike is the same as renting a standard bike. Students and professors with a .edu email address get a 50 percent discount.

A few Lime-E bikes showed up in the University District over the weekend. Initial reviews of the bikes were positive.

"Amazing. Will be a total game changer," former Seattle Department of Transportation chief Scott Kubly tweeted Sunday.

Image courtesy LimeBike