After the end of Pronto in March, bike sharing is making a comeback in Seattle. The Seattle Department of Transportation has launched a pilot program to reintegrate the Seattle bike share into the city. The program regulates the operations private bike share companies within the city including safety rules and fleet size regulations. On July 17th SDOT approved two permits for private bike share companies: Spin and LimeBike. Per SDOT, each company is limited to an initial rollout of 500 bikes.
Seattle Bike Share is Back – Spin and LimeBike – $1 for 30 Minutes – Bring your own Helmet!
You’ll be sure to spot Spin’s bright orange bikes around the area. They feature an onboard GPS with a cellular modem, 26 inch solid foam tires, three speed (geared low) internal hubs, an LED front light, adjustable height seats, a front basket and fenders. The bike costs $1 for 30 minutes. LimeBike’s bright green bikes have also made their way out on the street where it also costs $1 for 30 minutes. Both companies currently operate on a dockless system. Riders unlock the bike using their respective apps and when done park them in an authorized location. Despite the King County mandatory helmet law, the city won’t require Spin or LimeBike to provide helmets, but they do have to inform their rides of the law.
LimeBike and Spin are available for download in the iOS and android app stores.
If you’re looking to purchase your own bike, we recommend Velo Bike Shop located downtown on the corner of 6th Avenue and Blanchard Street. The full-service shop is open seven days a week and has been serving the Seattle area since 1968.