I've seen Lime scooters starting to creep into the Suburbs in larger numbers in Auckland. 

Not a bad thing as far as I am concerned. 

I love them , with no car parking at the chch hospital I park up 1km away and grab one to the hospital, wife has been in there for a month now and I use them twice a day. Pitty the hospital did not get 50 of their own for visitors to use as transport.

I wonder how the business is doing? Many love/like them, although they don't seem too cheap to use at 30c a km IIRC? I know a few who have bought their own scooter since, which are reasonably priced

tdgeek:

 

I wonder how the business is doing? Many love/like them, although they don't seem too cheap to use at 30c a km IIRC? I know a few who have bought their own scooter since, which are reasonably priced

 

I see them everywhere in the mornings in AKL CBD

tdgeek:

 

I wonder how the business is doing? Many love/like them, although they don't seem too cheap to use at 30c a km IIRC? I know a few who have bought their own scooter since, which are reasonably priced

 

its likely the only people actually making money will be the Juicers, ...

As a startup Lime will be burning through cash that Venture Capitalists keep pouring in the front door, on the hope that lime either drives the others out of business and can get the market to itself and then can hike its rates to turn a profit... 

or one of the other mobility companies (Uber et al) makes them an offer they cannot refuse....

wellygary:

 

or one of the other mobility companies (Uber et al) makes them an offer they cannot refuse....

 

Interestingly, Uber has already invested in Lime - this article from the middle of last year states:

With Uber making “a sizable investment” in the round, though Lime didn’t disclose how much, Lime’s scooters will become co-branded with the ride-hailing giant and be available for rent through the Uber app. The companies did not say when that new app feature would be available.

Apparently Lime will also be supplying e-bikes to Uber...

Not 30c a km.  $1 to hire, then 30c a minute

itxtme:

Not 30c a km.  $1 to hire, then 30c a minute

Not sure why they charge more per minute in NZ than they do in the US. It would make more sense IMO to charge per km if travelling a certain distance, otherwise there is an incentive to travel as fast as possible.

Interesting to see on Radio NZ, that the woman who got a serious head injury say that she likely wouldn't have had the head injury if a helmet had been used, and that everyone should wear a helmet with these, and they shouldn't be used when dark, which is all common sense IMO. Is it right that it is illegal to ride a pushbike without a helmet,  where you have to be cycling quite quickly to get up to 30km/hr, whereas you can ride these without one, and it can get up to 30km/hr relatively easily? Something doesn't seem right there. Also there was talk at getting rid of the need to wear cycle helmets not that long ago, yet they save lives and protect against serious head injuries. Considering all the other health and safety things we have, a lot of it overkill and just common sense, this would just be madness.

mattwnz:

 

Not sure why they charge more per minute in NZ than they do in the US. It would make more sense IMO to charge per km if travelling a certain distance, otherwise there is an incentive to travel as fast as possible.

 

The sooner you are finished with the scooter, the sooner the next person can use it..... Their business model relies on a rapid turnover of devices....

mattwnz:

 

Not sure why they charge more per minute in NZ than they do in the US. It would make more sense IMO to charge per km if travelling a certain distance, otherwise there is an incentive to travel as fast as possible.

 

Interesting to see on Radio NZ, that the woman who got a serious head injury say that she likely wouldn't have had the head injury if a helmet had been used, and that everyone should wear a helmet with these, and they shouldn't be used when dark, which is all common sense IMO. Is it right that it is illegal to ride a pushbike without a helmet,  where you have to be cycling quite quickly to get up to 30km/hr, whereas you can ride these without one, and it can get up to 30km/hr relatively easily? Something doesn't seem right there. Also there was talk at getting rid of the need to wear cycle helmets not that long ago, yet they save lives and protect against serious head injuries. Considering all the other health and safety things we have, a lot of it overkill and just common sense, this would just be madness.

 

Yes, madness. Nobody thinks of anything when they go cycling, the helmet is automatic. Scooters go faster, they are harder to ride, balance wise than a cycle, yet the world will end of we are forced to use a helmet, it takes away the enjoyment, blah, blah, blah. Makes no sense at all

Its not compatible with the business model, thats all it comes down to. Although it will mess with my fresh permed hair.......

A good and creative lawyer could take action to make cycle helmets voluntary based on the physics with scooters. Just to make a point. 

gzt:

itxtme:

 

Not 30c a km.  $1 to hire, then 30c a minute

 

No wonder some riders are in a hurry. Speed is incentivised.; ).

Hmm. I don't see them at 30kph much, usually a lot less, like a fast cycle. At $18 per hour and 18kph average that's $1 a km. 30c per minute sounds cheaper, good marketing. I bet red lights in town are annoying!!!

I couldnt get the one I used over 18 on flat ground last time. Still better than walking but not what I was expecting. Did they limit the speeds to satisfy old codgers whinings?

As a pedestrian I consider 18 km/h to be far too fast if you are on a footpath. If you are in a traffic or cycle lane then you can go as fast as you like.