Lime launches mass email blitz asking City Council to let them stay in Adelaide

Lime has launched a mass email blitz to Adelaide City councillors to keep its e-scooters in the city when its Fringe-long trial period finishes later this month.

Friends and work colleagues Holly Dundon, Isobel Huisman, and Brice Lawrence ride Lime Scooters in the city. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

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Lime has launched a mass email blitz to Adelaide City councillors to keep its e-scooters in the city when its Fringe-long trial period finishes later this month.

As the number of trips made in Adelaide surged past 50,000 yesterday, the e-scooter provider launched the same tactic as it has in New Zealand in an attempt to keep its 500-strong fleet operating in the CBD past March 17.

When users went into the Lime mobile app on Thursday, they were asked to share their support to “keep Lime in Adelaide”.

They were then redirected to a page asking them to send a pre-written email to Adelaide City councillors, urging them to give the all-clear to Lime e-scooters staying on the city streets after the month-long trial period finishes on March 17.

It mirrors what Lime has recently done in Auckland, where councillors received thousands of the emails.

The Advertiser attempted to contact Lime about the tactic.

The council will debate whether it gives its support to a further three-month trial of e-scooters in the city but this time potentially allowing two operators.

Lime’s e-scooter rival, Beam Mobility, has told the council and the State Government it would have no problem bringing 500 of its own scooters into the city.

But a new trial could result in the existing Lime e-scooters being taken off the city streets for a time.

Cr Alexander Hyde, who first proposed the council supports e-scooters coming to the city, said Adelaide had embraced the technology.

“It will be a great shame if council lets the trial end,” he said. “Adelaide’s well into the 21st century now; let’s start acting like it.”

Sachini Fernando from Sri Lanka rides a Lime e-scooter in Adelaide. Picture: Simon Cross

Mitchell Price from Lime scooters. Picture David Geraghty / The Australian.

The Advertiser understands the Government does not want to take the e-scooters off the streets, given their popularity.

The 50,000-trip total is from more than 18,000 riders, who have travelled over 90,000km all up.

The average distance covered for each trip is 1.12km, while riders are staying on for about 10 minutes.

Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said, with two weeks to go, the trial was looking successful.

“Fast-tracking this trial for the Adelaide Fringe and Mad March period has really given South Australians an opportunity to get on board with these electric scooters,” Mr Knoll said.

“I understand that the trial is running relatively smoothly, with only some minor hiccups along the way.

“The State Government has demanded assurances from Lime that these issues can be managed and we will continue to monitor the progress of the trial for the remaining two weeks.”

On Tuesday, The Advertiser reported electric scooters were being ridden outside of the city, including Norwood, despite the promise a geo-fence would confine their operation to the CBD.