Sustainable micro-mobility company Lime and ride-sharing technology platform Uber have announced the expansion of their partnership to include cities such as Prague, Warsaw and Stockholm.
The three capitals are among the first wave of European markets to gain access to Lime electric scooters directly from within the Uber app. The European expansion is projected to extend into Austria, Portugal and Spain throughout the summer as well.
“We’re excited that so many new European residents and visitors can now also rent a Lime scooter through the Uber app,” said Joe Kraus, president of Lime. “We look forward to continuing our efforts, in partnership with Uber, to make urban transportation smarter, easier, safer and more sustainable.”
Uber made its initial pivot towards e-scooters last summer, when the rides-sharing company contributed to Lime’s US$335m (£276m) Series C investment round. Five months later, Oakland, in California, USA, came online as the first global city to offer Lime scooters directly in the Uber app.
Since then, the partnership has grown to include more than 30 US markets, including Atlanta and San Diego where Uber began placing Lime scooters directly on the home rides screen last month.
To see Lime scooters from the Uber app, riders in participating cities can tap ‘Ride’ at the top of the screen and then select ‘Bike & Scooter’. Nearby scooters will automatically be populated on the map. Lime scooters can be unlocked via the Uber app by walking up to a scooter and scanning the QR code on the handlebar.
“We’re excited to find new ways for people to move through their city, and make it easier for them to get around without the need to own a car,” said Billy Guernier, Uber’s head of new mobility platforms. “Incorporating Lime in the Uber app means consumers have another fast, affordable option to get around their city, especially to and from public transit.”
