How to Use Scooter Share and Bike Share
Scooter share and bike share let you rent electric foot scooters and electric bikes for quick errands, trips to Link light rail, climate-friendly commute trips, and more. You rent the nearest available scooter or bike, ride it to where you want to go, and leave it responsibly parked for the next person to ride.
Resources for riding in Seattle...
- How do I rent shared e-scooters and e-bikes?
- How can I sign up for discounted fares?
- How do I get a helmet?
- What are some key tips for riding safely?
- Where can I park scooters and bikes?
- How do I report a problem?
- Where can I direct my questions or comments?
If you are looking for data dashboards, open datasets, permitting information, or other information related to scooter share and bike share program management, please see the following pages:
How do I rent shared e-scooters and e-bikes?
You may see 3 different brands of electric scooters and 2 different brands of 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
- Bikes
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.
- LINK: Call +1 (855) 978-8556 to create an account without a smart phone. Learn more on this LINK website.
- Veo: Call +1 (855) 836-2256 with the vehicle ID number to unlock the vehicle.
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. See the links below to sign up for each Vendor's program to save on rides and check out our Discounted Rides Sign-Up Info flyer to access each Vendor's program (also available in Amharic, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese).
- Apply for Bird Access (One free 60-minute ride per day. Additional time at the regular fare rate.)
- Apply for Lime Access (Five free 30-minute rides per day. Additional time at 50% off the regular fare.)
- Apply for LINK-Up (Rides of 20-minutes or less are free. Additional time at 95% off the regular fare.)
- Apply for Veo Access (One free 60-minute ride per day. Additional time charged at $0.02/minute with no unlock fees)
How do I get a helmet?
- Our micromobility partners offer free or discounted helmets you can order:
- Bird: Request a free helmet and pay $9.99 in shipping through this Bird website.
- Lime: Access discounted Bern helmets via this Lime website.
- Link: Access discounted Bern helmets using this 25% off discount code: LINKxBERN25
- Veo: Reach out to customer service for a free helmet by emailing hello@veoride.com or by calling 1 (855) 836-2256.
- Access free helmets for adults at Seattle Customer Service Centers:
- Through December 2022, the Seattle Department of Transportation will be giving out 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 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.
Our micromobility partners and SDOT staff also distribute helmets for free at community events. See this Seattle Community Events Calendar where a limited number of helmets will be distributed. Limit one helmet per person. Helmet sizes may be limited.
What are some key safety tips while riding?
- Wear a helmet (see Helmets tab for info on how to get a helmet)
- Learn how the device works before you ride (throttle, brakes, lights, kick stand, etc.)
- Ride in bike lanes or on multi-use paved trails whenever possible
- Plan your route using these resources:
- If riding a scooter, avoid riding on sidewalks (S.M.C. 11.46.010)
- Yield to pedestrians
- Use your voice or the bell (on the bike or scooter) when passing
- Slow down when it’s dark or rainy
- 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, and fire hydrants
- 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: support@link.city or (844) 701-8163
- Veo: hello@veoride.com or +1 (855) 836-2256
Where can I direct my questions or comments?
Contact the Seattle Department of Transportation by emailing scootershare@seattle.gov or bikeshare@seattle.gov or calling (206) 684-7623.