Lime bikes were on display Saturday at the CNY Living History Center in Cortland (Kaitlyn Hession/Cortland Voice)
Have you seen them? Neon green bikes that stick out like a sore thumb on street corners in the City of Cortland, the Town of Cortlandville and the Village of Homer. They are called Lime bikes, and they’re part of a bike share program that’s popping up in cities across the country.
The public had a chance to see these bikes on display during a launch event held by the Seven Valleys Health Coalition, the Cortland County Health Department and Lime at the CNY Living History Center Saturday morning. Three different models were on display: A traditional road bike, the Lime-E electric assist bike, and the Lime-S Scooter.
“The goal of this program is to encourage exercise and efficient travel around the county,” Susan Williams, Assistant Director for Seven Valleys, said Saturday. “We saw Ithaca had these bikes for awhile, and after talking to people and seeing the data, we decided it would be a great idea to have them here.”
Jennifer Hillman, a health educator with the Cortland County Health Department, helped adults and kids find the perfect helmet (Kaitlyn Hession/Cortland Voice)
Lime Bike started in 2017 with a stated mission of providing communities with access to “affordable mobility” and decreasing dependence on automobiles. It costs $1 to unlock the bike and 15 cents per minute during the ride. The Lime bike app will show you a map of all nearby bikes in your area.
Lime also offers a Lime Access program for low income households. The fee can be paid at the CVS pharmacy at 13 Port Watson Street or the 7-Eleven at 76 N. Main St. You can submit your information to check your eligibility on Lime’s website.
Jennifer Hillman, a health educator at the Cortland County Health Department, gave away helmets to adults and kids at Saturday’s event.
“I think giving the helmets to both kids and adults is a great way to promote helmet safety,” Hillman said. The helmets were provided by the Triple AAA promotion program of Central and Western New York.
Only people aged 16 years or older are permitted to ride the bikes. If you are under 18, you must have an adult riding with you.
