Lime launches fleet of e-scooters and bikes in Knoxville | wbir.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Lime launched a new fleet of scooters in Knoxville Monday.

The electric scooter rental company added 100 Gen4 e-scooters and two dozen Gen4 e-bikes to Knoxville streets.

The company said the new e-scooters provide a smoother and more sustainable ride thanks to enhanced suspension, larger wheels and a lowered baseboard to optimize the center of gravity.

Lime said the new Gen4 e-bikes make it easier to climb hills, features a new phone holder, a new handlebar display and an automatic two-speed transmission.

The City of Knoxville partnered with Lime to launch a new multimodal program with a goal to make the experience safe, affordable and sustainable, the company said in a release.

"Ahead of launch, we worked with the city to design operational plans that will have things running smoothly from day one and we look forward to our riders embracing our vehicles," Senior Director of Government Relations at Lime Zach Williams said. "We’ll be monitoring things closely and making any adjustments along the way to ensure our launch improves the livelihood of the city and the quality of life for all residents, not just our riders."

Knoxville City Council established a permanent scooter program in late November 2021. The program began evolving in August 2022 when a new vendor, Bird, began operations in the city center and University of Tennessee, along with LINK. E-scooter rental permits come with safety and accountability requirements.

The program is part of the city's long-term goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 80 percent by 2050.