Lime bans 1,000 accounts for underage riding in DC safety crackdown
Lime, the company behind the popular green and white short-term rental bikes and scooters, said it has banned 1,000 accounts for allowing use by riders under 18.
It’s part of the company’s $17 million action plan called “Keep DC Moving.” It follows many complaints that electric bikes and scooters are being driven unsafely and, in some cases, being used as the getaway vehicles in crimes.
Lime executives said the banning of 1,000 accounts was the result of listening to concerns.
The banning process involved using additional levels of verification, assisted by AI.
“By taking a selfie before the trip, in the instance that the AI is unsure, we back that up with an ID scan. You have to upload your ID to show that you are over the age of 18,” said Erika Duthely, regional head of government relations for Lime.
Those who feel they were banned in error can appeal.
“They can appeal and reach out to our customer service team, and we’ll review each case, but we really feel confident that the people that we have banned are those who are trying to flout our terms and conditions,” Duthely said.
Images distributed regularly by D.C. police that show suspects, many who appear to be young teens, leaving the scenes of serious crimes, including shootings, on Lime rental bikes and scooters contributed to complaints about underage use.
But Elizabeth Kiker of the Washington Area Bicyclists Association feels Lime’s age restriction also prohibits D.C. teens from using the rented wheels to get to and from school and work. She thinks a minimum age of 16, the legal age to drive a car, is worth considering.
“I understand there are laws about it, but I wish that younger kids were able to access it,” she said. “And I think that’s why so many parents sometimes allow it is, you know, it’s like, ‘Well, my kid needs a way to get to school, and this is an easy, convenient, affordable way.’”
Lime said it is also expanding new technology to its full e-scooter fleet. An AI-enabled downward facing camera would detect when a scooter is being ridden on a sidewalk. Doing so in prohibited areas could also result in an account ban.
