Lime Relaunching JUMP Bikes In Seattle

SEATTLE, WA — JUMP bikes are returning to Seattle's streets after a monthlong hiatus.

After receiving a $170 million investment from Uber, who previously owned JUMP, Lime bought Jump in early May. After the purchase, the JUMP bikes were removed from city streets for rebranding and integration into Lime's systems, leaving the city without an active bikeshare program. Lime had previously recalled all of their 2,000 bikes from Seattle in December as part of an effort to focus on their scooter program.

Now, JUMP bikes are returning to Seattle. Right now, around 500 of the bikes are out and available for rent. Lime says they plan to increase the number of bikes based upon demand.

Other changes are also on the way. For now, riders will have to keep using the Uber app to rent the bikes for the time being, but Lime says they have plans to add the JUMP bikes to the Lime app in the near future.

The company says they're optimistic the relaunched JUMP bikes will be popular, especially with the reduced transit capacity Seattle has seen amid the pandemic.

"Bikeshare is going to be critical to mobility in our city as COVID has reduced the capacity of our transit system," said Jonathan Hopkins, Lime Government Affairs for Pacific Northwest & Canada. "Over the coming weeks, we will continue to work with the City of Seattle to ensure bikeshare is a critical part of our recovery and key part of our City’s efforts to create safer streets and reduce emissions.”

To reduce coronavirus transmissions, Lime is encouraging riders to wear gloves if possible, and to wash their hands with hand sanitizer when the ride is over.