Lime Has DC Charity's Back With A New Donation Option

As part of an effort to ease sometimes contemptuous relationships with local regulators, dockless e-scooter startup Lime is adding a charitable spin to its model.

The company, which has hundreds of its scooters on D.C. streets, is launching a program that lets riders opt into a donation program that helps fund Building Bridges Across the River.

Lime Hero will allow users to to add 15 cents per mile or round up the fare to the nearest dollar to make donations automatically when they ride.

The move comes as e-scooter companies and cities raise tensions over what can and can't populate the sidewalks and roadways. D.C.'s pilot program that included seven dockless companies is set to expire soon, and two involved startups already skipped town.

It's not an unfamiliar process – in 2017 Lyft introduced its Round Up & Donate feature that raised $3 million in seven months – but it is the first time a dockless vehicle startup has tried it out.

In other locality-friendly moves, Lime expanded its discount program for low-income customers this month, and rival scooter startup Bird recently announced it would wave the $1 base ride fee for people who need financial assistance.

The nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River runs rec center THEARC, which provides access to educational, health, cultural, recreation and social service programs for residents east of the Anacostia River.

The Lime Hero launch is starting with just three cities: D.C., Austin and Seattle. In Austin it’s partnering with the Austin Music Foundation. In Seattle it’s teaming up with the Cascade Bicycle Club.

Lime eventually plans to offer it to all their U.S. markets with local partners.