Shared electric scooters and bikes are set to hit Bellevue city streets starting Monday, as the city partners with Lime to launch a fleet of 500 devices across downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The initial rollout includes 350 scooters, 100 seated gliders and 50 e-bikes, giving residents a new way to cover short distances without a car.
City officials say the shared electric devices can connect riders to bus and light rail service, cutting down on parking hassles, car trips and congestion, according to KOMO News. Officials describe the shared electric mobility program as a flexible and affordable transportation option for people who live, work or spend time in Bellevue. The rollout follows years of groundwork: city staff worked with local elected leaders for three years to draft scooter legislation before the city issued a competitive Request for Proposals for shared micromobility in early 2026, with Lime winning the bidding process in April, according to 425 Magazine.
Rules of the Road for Bellevue's New Fleet
Ahead of the launch, Bellevue updated its municipal code in July 2025 to specifically govern motorized foot scooters, setting a minimum rider age of 16, capping speeds at 15 mph, banning tandem passengers and prohibiting sidewalk riding unless there is no safe alternative, per the City of Bellevue. The update aligned local law with state statutes ahead of permitting a commercial operator.
The city has also built in equity provisions. Riders enrolled in ORCA LIFT, Medicaid (Apple Health), SNAP or utility assistance programs can qualify for Lime Access pricing of just $0.50 to unlock a device and $0.07 per minute, according to the City of Bellevue. For residents without smartphones, Lime is offering a dedicated text-to-ride service at (415) 463-3473 to unlock scooters and e-bikes, the city says.
A Second Try After a 2019 Exit
This isn't Lime's first attempt at shared mobility in Bellevue. The company ran a 400-vehicle electric bike share pilot in the city starting in August 2018, drawing more than 9,000 riders, but declined to renew its permit in late 2019 as it shifted its business focus toward e-scooters, according to GeekWire. Seven years later, the city is reintroducing shared e-bikes alongside scooters and gliders under a new, broader agreement.
Bellevue's move also fits into a larger regional footprint for the company. Across the Seattle metro area, Lime operates roughly 17,000 shared vehicles — scooters, bikes and seated gliders — out of a central operations facility in Georgetown, according to The Urbanist. The company also runs fleets in Seattle, Everett, Shoreline, Redmond, Bothell and Woodinville.
Crossing City Lines, and Cashing In on Transit Discounts
Riders will be able to travel between Bellevue and Redmond on the same device, since Lime's Eastside network allows cross-border trips between the two cities. Geofencing technology, however, will prevent devices from being ridden into other neighboring cities like Kirkland or Issaquah, per MyNorthwest.
Starting in fall 2026, Lime plans to offer automatic discounts for rides that end near a Sound Transit light rail station or transit center, an incentive meant to close first- and last-mile gaps around Eastside transit hubs, according to the Bellevue Chamber. That focus on car-free connectivity is already visible elsewhere downtown: on August 3, Visit Bellevue launched the Bellevue Light Rail Shuttle, a free pilot service using electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz vans to connect the 2 Line's Bellevue Downtown Station to nearby destinations, fully funded by a $150,000 Amazon sponsorship and running through December.
Free Helmets and a Community Launch Party
The city and Lime will host a community launch event from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 14 at Amazon Meadow, 600 108th Ave. NE, where community mobility and transit partners are expected to share resources with attendees. Lime plans to distribute free helmets at the same event.
The new fleet also lands alongside a statewide push to make electric micromobility more affordable. The Washington State Department of Transportation launched a statewide e-bike rebate program in April 2026, offering monthly lottery selections for residents 16 and older to receive $300 to $1,200 toward personal e-bike purchases, according to Choose Your Way Bellevue. That rebate program is set to run through March 2027.
