LimeBike Introducing Electric Bikes In Seattle

SEATTLE, WA - You know those people who can bike up the steepest hills in Seattle with no sweat and without even standing on the pedals? Well, now you have a chance to show them up.

The dockless bike share company LimeBike is planning to introduce electric-assist bikes to its Seattle fleet. Electric-assist bikes use battery power to help your legs. The "Lime-E" bikes will be able to cruise at top speeds of 15 MPH.

The electric Lime-E bikes are more expensive than the human-powered ones at about $7 per hour. However, LimeBike says it will offer discounts to students and low-income Seattleites. The regular human-powered LimeBike bikes cost about $1 per hour.

About a year ago, the Seattle Department of Transportation piloted a program to replace the old Pronto bikeshare system with a fleet of electric bikes. SDOT was set to bring about 1,200 electric bikes to the city, but the $5 million price tag was ultimately more than the city wanted to pay.

LimeBike didn't say specifically when the electric bikes will hit the streets, just that it'll be sometime in January. In addition to the bikes, LimeBike plans to hire more local staff to maintain the new electric fleet.

Image courtesy LimeBike