COQUITLAM, B.C., July 17, 2023 – New e-scooter and e-bike sharing options make it easier to go green when travelling around Coquitlam’s City Centre area.
Through an agreement with the City, Lime and Neuron Mobility are providing e-scooter and e-bike sharing in Coquitlam’s City Centre area until December 2024. The pilot program, which supports Coquitlam’s goal of encouraging sustainable transportation, may expand to other areas of the City over time.
How the Shared Service Works
Riders can download Lime or Neuron’s apps – free from the App Store or Google Play – to find available e-bikes or e-scooters, unlock the devices, and identify where they can ride and park. They must be at least 18 years old to ride with Lime, and at least 16 years old (with parent/guardian permission), to ride using Neuron’s devices.
Lime and Neuron are providing a total of 450 e-scooters and 130 e-bikes, with helmets and locks attached throughout Coquitlam’s City Centre area. Pick-up and parking will depend on location:
- Town Centre (bounded by Coquitlam Centre, Lincoln Centre Station, City Hall, Douglas College and Town Centre Park): Devices must be parked within a marked dockless micromobility station – these are the spaces identified with the white perimeter line. Use the app to find these parking stations located in public rights-of-way, located about every 200 metres.
- Outside Town Centre: Users can park the devices within City right-of-way boulevards. Use the app for guidance on where to park, including public and private bike racks and certain curbside areas, but not on sidewalks or pathways.
The shared e-bikes and e-scooters may be ridden in a specified area, City Centre Operating Area, bounded by David Avenue, Falcon Drive, just south of Lougheed Highway (including Coquitlam Central SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations), and the Coquitlam River.
More details can be found at coquitlam.ca/escooter or via the providers’ apps.
Since the devices began rolling out across the city on June 29, more than 8,700 combined trips have been recorded on the Lime and Neuron devices city-wide. Pricing ranges from $1.15 and $1.19 to unlock and $0.35 and $0.39 per minute to ride, with daily and monthly fees available, as well as discounts for users enrolled in subsidy programs.
Promoting Rider Safety
E-scooters and e-bikes can generally go wherever bicycles are allowed, including multi-use paths, bike or micromobility lanes, and other streets, while having the same rights and should follow the same rules and regulations as cyclists.
The Lime and Neuron apps and websites include “how to” and safety information. Built-in technology limits travel speeds to 24 kilometres per hour (slower in areas with high pedestrian use) and ensures devices only operate within the designated ridership area.
Coquitlam provides rider safety and etiquette information at coquitlam.ca/escooter and is planning a series of free micromobility education workshops in conjunction with HUB Cycling and the two providers (devices and helmets will be provided).
The first E-Mobility Education Workshop will be held on Sunday, July 30, from 12 to 2 p.m. in the Lincoln Park & Ride Lot, 3045 Lincoln Ave.
Quotes
“These new shared micromobility services are a convenient, low-carbon option for commuters, shoppers and residents to get around City Centre. They’re one of many ways we’re encouraging people to make more sustainable transportation choices in Coquitlam.” – Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart
“Lime is thrilled to be in Coquitlam providing residents with a safe, sustainable and affordable way to get around their community. Whether you're visiting one of the beautiful parks, going shopping, or grabbing a bite to eat, we look forward to helping you reach your destination. Together with the City of Coquitlam, and our local partners we look forward to creating a greener, more accessible and thriving Coquitlam." – Sonia Kandola, Director Government Relations, Canada, Lime
“We are delighted to have been chosen by the City of Coquitlam to provide our vehicles and thank them for their trust and support. E-scooters and e-bikes are a great way for residents and visitors to travel in a safe, convenient and environmentally-friendly way.” – Ankush Karwal, Head of Canada, Neuron Mobility
Encouraging Sustainable Transportation
E-scooters, e-bikes and other electric micromobility devices are growing in popularity as convenient forms of active transportation well suited to urban areas and transit hubs.
Coquitlam has been exploring the use of e-micromobility devices as part of its sustainable transportation goals. Earlier this year, the City adopted bylaws allowing people aged 16 and up to use e-scooters in designated areas, as part of a provincial e-scooter pilot to research, test and evaluate the use of e-scooters as a low-carbon transportation option.
The City is also developing an E-Mobility Strategy as part of its Strategic Transportation Plan update, with aim of increasing electric vehicle and e-micromobility adoption, expanding transportation choices and shared vehicle use, and reducing reliance on private vehicles.
These transportation modes will play an important role of achieving the proposed goals of the new Strategic Transportation Plan, including 50 per cent sustainable transportation by 2050 and zero transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Media contact
Angela Jarvis
E-Mobility Manager
epw@coquitlam.ca
604-927-3500
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-kwuh-tlum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), and other Coast Salish Peoples.