- The U.S.-based micromobility startup is operating in Brazil and Chile following sanitary measures to prevent the COVID-19;
- Scooters will be excellent options to meet the demand for transport and keep people healthy in the post COVID-19 phase, according to Lime’s Head of operations in the region.
Scooter rentals company Lime is resuming operations in Latin America after almost four months away from the region. Rio de Janeiro (since July 29) and Santiago‘s (since August 3rd) operations are back on track.
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As Juan Pablo Balut, Head of operations in Latin America, points out: “Electric scooters offer a transportation alternative to those who want to get around safely outdoors and maintaining social distance. Thanks to our presence globally, we have found that the need for individual mobility solutions increases with the flattening of the COVID-19 curve. We will resume service with a reduced fleet, analyzing the new mobility habits of citizens and gradually increasing activity”.
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According to the executive, sanitary measures were taken for the restart of the operations. He also said that demand for scooters increased in countries where Lime has maintained its operations, such as the U.S. and Israel, besides Europe.
Now, the company is moving back to Latin America, after it had a first difficult start. Lime received a $170 million investment from Uber in May and took control of the Uber-Jump operation, says Mobile Time.
In an email to LABS, Balut said the infrastructure of cities will continue to change i the post COVID-19 phase. According to him, micromobility transports will be excellent options to meet the demand for transport and keep people healthy. And it seems that large urban centers are already preparing for this, as Bogotá, in Colombia, created 117 kilometers of cycle paths to accommodate more cyclists and ensure social distancing.
Also, in the region, Miraflores in Peru will soon start a pilot plan for the implementation of temporary micromobility routes to promote the use of bicycles and individual mobility vehicles during the state of health emergency. Balut also said that cities like Mexico City and London are seeing the benefits of many years spent growing their cycling networks and are moving to make temporary measures in this segment permanent.
