The District of West Vancouver announced last week that it had joined the City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver in a two-year e-bike share pilot program.
Lime has been granted a permit to operate the e-bike share system and it is anticipated that the fleet of 200 e-bikes will launch at dozens of designated locations across North Vancouver in July 2021, followed by locations in West Vancouver later this summer.
Based in San Francisco, Lime has proven experience operating shared electric mobility systems in dozens of cities around the world, such as Calgary, Ottawa, and Seattle. Through the Lime app, riders will be able to start and end their e-bike rides from any designated parking location for trips anywhere across the North Shore, including its many hills.
E-bike share programs provide an easy, cost-effective, and environmentally-sensitive transportation option. Similar non-electric bike share systems are in place in the City of Vancouver and at the University of British Columbia. The North Shore’s e-bike share pilot will be the first all-electric bike share of its kind in British Columbia.
The pilot program supports the recommendations of the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project (INSTPP) initiative, which brought together all levels of government across the North Shore, including First Nations and TransLink, to identify, evaluate, and prioritize joint transportation decisions. The pilot also aligns with the objectives of Council’s Strategic Goals to improve mobility, reduce congestion on our roads, and protect our natural environment.
“The electric bike-share program complements our goal to improve West Vancouver’s active transportation network of walking and cycling trails, and public transportation. This innovative pilot project makes it easier to move around West Vancouver and across the North Shore, while relying less on gas-powered cars to get us where we want to go,” said Mayor Mary-Ann Booth, who is the Chair of NXSTPP (Next Step), the successor to INSTPP.
“Fuel to power our motor vehicles is a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions in West Vancouver, and e-bikes will help us lower those emissions, while providing residents and visitors a fun way to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. This also provides a great opportunity for everyone to try out an e-bike for the first time!”
An e-bike has an integrated electric motor that adds power to your pedalling, so tackling the hilly terrain will be easier than ever for adults of all ages and abilities. Residents sign-up to participate and are able to rent an e-bike from a fleet available at a variety of public locations across the North Shore. For a fee, members can pick up a bike at one location and drop it off at any other designated location.
During the two-year pilot project, the municipalities will work with Lime to provide guidance and conduct ongoing monitoring and outreach to assess the impacts and success of the program. District staff will regularly review user data and public feedback, and will report on the pilot’s status to Council and the public.
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