How to Use Scooter Share and Bike Share

How do I rent shared e-scooters and e-bikes? 

You may see 2 different brands of electric scooters and electric bikes on the streets of Seattle. Each is available for rental through a smart phone application by the company labeled on the scooter or bike. You can also rent without a smart phone (see below).

Download the apps for the scooters or bikes that you want to ride: 

• Scooters
  • Bird (silver/blue and orange/black standing scooters): iOS | Android
  • Lime (white/green standing scooters): iOS | Android
• Bikes
  • Bird (blue/black bikes): iOS | Android
  • Lime (white/green bikes): iOS | Android

If you do not have a smart phone, each company provides other ways to access bikes and scooters: 

• Bird: Enroll for text-to-ride by emailing TextToRide@Bird.co. Learn more on this Bird website. 
• Lime: Text (415) 463-3473 and follow the prompts. Learn more on this Lime website. 

To learn more about how to use scooter or bike share, visit an in-person event attended by a shared micromobility vendor and/or the Seattle Department of Transportation.

• Check out our Community Events Calendar to find an event. 

Sign up for discounted fares (if applicable):

If you have ORCA LIFT, the Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP), or Apple Health (Medicaid), or receive discounted utilities, discounted housing, or nutritional assistance (e.g. SNAP), you likely qualify for rides at a reduced cost. Here is a flyer on the program (also available in Amharic, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese). See the links below to sign up for each Vendor's program to save on rides.

• Apply for Bird Access ($0.75 to unlock, $0.01 per minute of riding.)
• Apply for Lime Access ($0.75 to unlock, $0.01 per minute of riding. If the ride exceeds 60 minutes, a $.75 fee is reapplied to each new hour of riding

Bike & Scoot to Transit Program

Skip the traffic. Skip the stress. Bike or scsoot your way to transit and earn rewards along the way. Rent a Lime or Bird bike or scooter, ride to a transit hub, park in select spots and earn rewards. Yes, it’s that easy! 

All Seattle Link Light Rail stations, plus several RapidRide H bus stations, are eligible for this promotion. Learn more at kingcounty.gov/metro/bikeandscoot

Follow these easy steps:

1. 📲 Connect your Lime or Bird accounts with the Transit Go Ticket App.  

2. 🚍 Earn a free transit ticket when you ride a shared bike or scooter to transit (see this map for all eligible locations).  

3. 🛴 Earn credit for your next bike or scooter trip after you redeem your free transit ticket. Ready to ride? Visit kingcounty.gov/metro/bikeandscoot and start earning.

How do I get a helmet?

• Access free helmets for adults at Seattle Customer Service Centers:
  • The Seattle Department of Transportation is distributing free helmets at six Seattle Customer Service Centers (CSCs) located throughout the city; the locations handing out helmets include the Ballard CSC, Central CSC, Lake City CSC, Southeast CSC, Southwest CSC, and University CSC. The Downtown CSC is excluded from this program.  
  • Helmets are limited to 1 per adult, and sizes will be limited. The helmets are being provided by Bird, Lime, and Veo. Check out our flyer for more information (also available in Amharic, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese). For more information, email ScooterShare@seattle.gov or call (206) 375-2344.  
• NEW! Access free helmets for adults at the following businesses during their regular business hours:
  • Bombo Italian Kitchen: 1600 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
  • Juicy Café: 725 Pike St, Floor 2, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98101
• Our micromobility partners and SDOT often distribute free helmets at community events. See this Seattle Community Events Calendar to find events where a limited number of helmets will be distributed at each event. Limit one helmet per person. Helmet sizes may be limited.
• Our micromobility partners offer discounted helmets you can order: 
  • Lime: Access discounted Bern helmets via this Lime website.

What are some key tips for riding safely? 

• Check out our Community Events Calendar to find events where you can do free test rides with our shared micromobility vendors. 
  • This summer, join us for Bike & Scoot Sundays on Lake Washington Boulevard during Bicycle Weekends! Check out this flyer for more information (also available in Amharic, Korean, Vietnamese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, and Traditional Chinese).  
• Learn how the device works before you ride (throttle, brakes, lights, kick stand, etc.).
• Wear a helmet (see Helmets tab for info on how to get a helmet) (S.M.C. 11.46.020).
• Ride in bike lanes or on multi-use paved trails whenever possible.  
  • Plan your route using these resources:
    • Seattle Online Bike Map
    • SDOT’s Bike Program Website 
• Weather-Related Tips:Ride cautiously in icy and/or snowy conditions.
  • Take extra care while riding on bridges/overpasses or shadowed areas that are first to freeze and last to melt.
  • Brake slowly, not suddenly.
  • Avoid riding on ice or deep snow whenever possible.
  • Avoid making sharp turns on ice.
  • Consider taking other means of transportation, such as transit, during icy and/or snowy conditions. 
• If riding a scooter, avoid riding on sidewalks (S.M.C. 11.46.010).
• Yield to pedestrians.
• Slow down when it’s dark or rainy. 
• Use your voice or the bell (on the bike or scooter) when passing.
• Don’t ride in no-ride zones, such as parks, as shown in the app.
  • Riding into a no-ride zone will slow your scooter or bike to a stop. It will begin working again when you leave the no-ride zone.
• Don’t ride on streets where the speed limit is over 25mph.
• Only one person per scooter or bike.
• Don’t scoot or bike while intoxicated.
    

Where can I park scooters and bikes?

Do your part and park your scooter or bike in an appropriate, out of the way location at the end of your ride. 

• Park the scooter or bike upright at a bike rack, bike corral, or in the area with trees, poles, and other fixtures towards the curb
• Leave at least six feet clear for pedestrians to pass
• See the image below for a visualization of where to park and watch Bike Share Parking: Do the Right Thing! for more parking tips

Badly parked scooters and bikes can cause problems for people getting around on our sidewalks, especially if they're rolling in a wheelchair, or are blind or have low vision. Improperly parking shared scooters and bikes could result in an additional $20 fee tacked onto your ride.  

Do not park: 

• At curb ramps, a corner/intersection, or in driveways  
• Within designated no-parking zones that are highlighted in the map in the app you’re using 
• Within bus stops
• In City of Seattle parks
• In front of building doors, benches, parking pay stations, fire hydrants, recycling/garbage bins, and dumpsters
• On private property or in a place that’s hidden 

How do I report a problem? 

• If a scooter or bike is improperly parked or needs maintenance, please let us know by reporting it through our Find It, Fix It mobile app, online web portal (select "Bike or Scooter Share Issue" from the list on the left), or by phone at (206) 684-ROAD or (206) 684-7623. We immediately forward these reports to our micromobility partners for a quick response. 
• If you are involved in a collision with an injury and need emergency assistance, dial 911. You may file a collision report online with the Washington State Patrol, including for less serious collisions that do not require a 911 response. Report the collision to the company you were renting from and let them know if the scooter needs to be repaired or removed from service. You may also contact ScooterShare@seattle.gov or BikeShare@seattle.gov to report an incident.
• Contact Vendors Directly:
  • Bird: hello@bird.co or 1 (866) 205-2442
  • Lime:  support@li.me or (888) 546-3345
  • LINK-Superpedestrian: To report a problem, email ScooterShare@seattle.gov. 
  • Veo: hello@veoride.com or +1 (855) 836-2256 

Adaptive Cycle Share

Our program is partnering with Outdoors for All to offer free adaptive cycle rentals for people with disabilities at their Magnuson Park Adaptive Cycling Center this summer. Outdoors for All's Adaptive Cycling Center will be open 7 days a week, from 10AM-6PM, from May 1 to September 30. For more information about the adaptive cycle rentals, visit this webpage and select "CYCLING/BIKING" from the list of programs. The Adaptive Cycling Center is located at: 6344 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA, 98115.

Outdoors for All also hosts off-site events and pop-ups throughout the summer. Check this calendar for a list of all off-site events hosted by Outdoors for All. 

If you have any questions about this program, please email info@outdoorsforall.org or call (206) 838-6030.