Lime Launches Electric Bike Rentals in Tel Aviv Amid Competitors' Hesitation

Lime, the shared mobility company, has introduced electric bike rentals in Tel Aviv following a prior launch in Ramat Gan. The pricing matches that of electric scooters, charging 6 shekels per ride plus 0.80 shekels per kilometer. The company deployed 400 pairs of bikes in the city, in line with the municipal allocation for micro-mobility providers under the new tender. However, competitors Bird and Dott have yet to introduce electric bikes, limiting the current supply, though they may join Lime if demand grows. Adding electric bikes requires companies to invest in hundreds of new vehicles and expand maintenance operations.

Tel Aviv is considered one of the most profitable cities for shared transportation due to heavy traffic congestion, limited public transit on weekends, and an extensive bike lane network. Another provider, Metropan (formerly Tel-O-Fun), also offers electric bike rentals via daily, weekly, or annual subscriptions with discounted rates for Tel Aviv residents.

Medical teams at Ichilov Hospital report that electric bike riders are involved in significantly fewer accidents than electric scooter users. The larger wheels of electric bikes provide greater stability and reduce sensitivity to road potholes. The Ministry of Transportation limits the bikes' speed to 25 km/h. Maxim Moses, CEO of Lime Israel, stated, "Tel Aviv is a dynamic urban transport market where cycling is already part of daily life. Our bikes are designed to make riding accessible to more people." Lime has operated in Israel since 2019, currently serving Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Petah Tikva, Kiryat Ono, Holon, Ashdod, and Eilat.