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City of St. Louis Bike Share - Frequently Asked Questions
City of St. Louis bike share/e-scooters Frequently Asked Questions
Trailnet and Bi-State Development created this frequently asked questions (FAQ) to help address questions being asked about bike share bikes/e-scooters. Click on the blue links to read answers to the various questions. To learn more about City of St. Louis bike share, please click here.
- What is dockless bike share?
- What is an e-scooter?
- How many bikes/e-scooters will be in St. Louis?
- What is the Bike Share Social Equity and Inclusion Target Neighborhoods?
- How many bikes/e-scooters will be parked in the Bike Share Social Equity and Inclusion Target Neighborhoods?
- Where do I park the dockless bike sharing bike/e-scooters?
- How long can I use the bike for?
- How long can I use the e-scooter for?
- Is there a hold or reserve option, so I can ensure the bike/e-scooter is available again when needed?
- Are there helmets available for bikes/e-scooters?
- What are the geographic limits of the bike share/e-scooter program?
- Can I check out multiple bikes/e-scooters with one phone?
- Does the bike share program have a Community rate?
- Do I need to download the app onto my phone to use bike share bikes/e-scooters?
- Where can I go to pay to use the bike share with cash?
- Where can I learn more about bicycle education?
- Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
What is dockless bike share?
Dockless bike share is a network of shared bicycles available for short-term use. Dockless bike share does not use stations like the traditional systems in Chicago or Washington, D.C. Instead, they can be placed anywhere, and you can find the bikes through GPS locators on a smartphone app or by calling a phone number.
What is an e-scooter?
E-scooters are similar to dockless bike share as they are available for short-term use and dockless. They can be placed anywhere, and you can find the e-scooters through GPS locators on a smart phone or by calling a phone number. The e-scooters can go up to 15 mph.
In the City of St. Louis, users of e-scooters are required to wear a helmet. Users are not allowed to ride them on sidewalks - stick to bike lanes and streets.
How many bikes/e-scooters will be in St. Louis?
Each company that receives a permit to operate can start with a max of 750 bikes/e-scooters in the first month, then can increase the fleet by 350 bikes/e-scooters each month thereafter, with a cap at 2,500 bikes/e-scooters.
If the company wants to exceed 2,500, they must provide evidence that there is need for more, based on ridership, demand, or other factors. As of now, two companies have permits to operate: Lime and Bird
What is the Bike Share Social Equity and Inclusion Target Neighborhoods?
The Target Neighborhoods are designated based on a feasibility study done by Great Rivers Greenway in 2014, which mapped out areas with high concentrations of low income households, people of color, households with no access to a vehicle, and non-english speakers. The neighborhoods with high concentrations of those factors that were also within reasonable biking distance of MetroLink and the urban core of the city were chosen as places that could benefit the most from additional affordable transportation option.
See the map here for Target Neighborhoods: http://www.stlbikeshare.org/uploads/7/8/3/3/7833643/bike_share_social_equity_and_inclusion_target_neighborhoods.pdf
How many bikes/e-scooters will be parked in the Bike Share Social Equity and Inclusion Target Neighborhoods?
Each company is required to park at least 20% of their total bikes/e-scooters within the Target Neighborhoods. Minimum of 1.5% in each area.
Where do I park the dockless bike sharing bike/e-scooters?
Bikes/e-scooters should be parked outside of the main sidewalk pavement (e.g. the strip of sidewalk between the walking area and the street where you may see parking meters, signs, and trees), and/or when possible at a public bike racks. Bikes/e-scooters should be parked to not obstruct doorways, driveways, cars, or people using mobility devices. Bikes/e-scooters can be locked by pushing the metal bar back through the spokes of the back wheel.
How long can I use the bike for?
As long as you want! The bike will not lock automatically if its in motion. Each company has different pricing:
- Lime Pricing Model for bikes - $1/ 30 minutes (½ price for students/anyone with am .edu email address, $5/100 riders for qualified low income membership)
How long can I use the e-scooter for?
As long as you want! The e-scooter will not lock automatically if its in motion. Each company has different pricing:
- Lime & Bird Pricing Model for e-scooters - $1 to begin session and 15 cents per minute during session.
Is there a hold or reserve option, so I can ensure the bike/e-scooter is available again when needed?
There is currently not a hold or reserve option. Hopefully, once the companies increase the quantity of bike share bikes/e-scooter then there will be enough bikes/e-scooters around that even if the one you rode gets used by someone else there will be another bike/e-scooter available nearby.
Are there helmets available for bikes/e-scooters?
Users may request a free ($1.99 shipping) helmet through the Bird app. Lime does not offer free helmets by request at this time but it does have giveaway events from time to time. In the City of St. Louis, you are only required to wear a helmet when bicycling if you are under 18. However, it is always recommended to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.
For e-scooters, people are required to wear a helmet.
What are the geographic limits of the bike share/e-scooter program?
Currently, bike share bikes/e-scooters are allowed to be parked, on public streets and sidewalks (e.g. not on private property, such as, college campuses).
The companies plan to work with neighboring municipalities in St. Louis County and in Illinois to create a more regional system. Please note, this does not mean the bikes/e-scooters will stop working if you go out of the city limits, but you are not supposed to park them outside the city limits and the companies have the ability to fine users that do.
Lime has expanded dockless bike share to the city of Clayton and Ferguson in St. Louis County.
Can I check out multiple bikes/e-scooters with one phone?
Each individual must sign a waiver after reading over the liability and terms and services to use the bike share bikes/e-scooters, so it is not possible to check out multiple bikes/e-scooters with one phone as each phone is associated with one account.
Does the bike share program have a Community rate?
Lime has a $5/100 ride community rate for the dockless bike share bikes. More information here: https://www.limebike.com/community-impact.
To qualify for Lime Access, an individual simply needs to demonstrate qualification or participation in any state or federally-run assistance program.
- Email access@limebike.com with the following information. A Lime representative will get back to you within 2 business days with any next steps and further information.
- Full Name
- Phone Number (this number should be for the phone you plan to use for LimeBike)
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Proof of low income status (e.g. EBT card, discounted utility bill, or any other state or federally-run assistance program document)
Additional partnerships to enable more opportunities for access to this membership option are still in development.
Do I need to download the app onto my phone to use bike share bikes/e-scooters?
Downloading the app is the easiest way to use bike share bikes/e-scooters, but there is a non-smart phone option as well. Each company will have a number to call or text to unlock the bikes/e-scooters without a smart phone. You can sign up for the non-smart phone option at www.LimeBike.com.
Where can I go to pay to use the bike share with cash?
You can go to any PayNearMe locations, which include 711, Family Dollar, CVS, ACE Cash Express, and Casey’s General Store: http://paynearme.com/en/payment-locations/
Where can I learn more about bicycle education?
There is information available on Trailnet’s website about confident city cycling skills: https://trailnet.org/education/confident-city-cycling/
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
Jamie Wilson, P.E.
Director, Department of Streets
(314) 647-3111
Ext. 1101
Email & full profile
