Shared Bikes

Frequently Asked Questions About Shared E-Bikes

1. Where can shared e-bikes be parked?

   Shared e-bikes can be parked within the boulevard of the public right of way, which is generally the space between the sidewalk and the curb. E-bikes may be parked on paved or unpaved boulevards. E-bikes are not permitted to block the adjacent sidewalks or streets and must maintain a minimum of 5’ pedestrian walkway at all times. E-bikes cannot be parked in a way that blocks access to pedestrian ramps, fire hydrants, driveways, alleys, bus stops, doors, or other uses of the public right of way. Scooters must be upright when parked. Users are asked to use common sense and courtesy when parking the e-bikes to keep sidewalks usable and safe for everyone.

   For questions or concerns about misplaced e-bikes, biker behavior, or daily e-bike operations, please contact the vendor, Lime at 888-LIME-345.

2. What are the rules of the road for e-bike users?

   See Minnesota statute 169.222 regarding the laws for operating a bicycle. People riding a shared e-bike are allowed to operate on any street unless it is signed to restrict access (usually only controlled access freeways/highways). Riders should ride on the right hand side of the road and obey traffic laws. E-bikes are allowed in bike lanes and bike trails/shared use paths. Please be alert when using an e-bike in shared off-street traffic, as you may move faster than many other users.

3. Can I ride an e-bike on the sidewalks?

   Per Minnesota statute 169.222, you may not ride a bicycle on a sidewalk in a business district. This includes areas like Downtown Saint Paul, and some commercial streets like parts of Grand and Selby Avenues. 

   When in doubt, ride in the street toward the right side of the road – it’s less crowded than sidewalks in business districts. You can ride a bicycle on business district sidewalks for short durations when parking or leaving a parking parked position next to the sidewalk. 

   You may ride a bicycle on sidewalks elsewhere in Saint Paul. And bicycles are always permitted on bike trails/shared use paths.

4. Where can I ride an e-bike in Saint Paul?

   You can ride an e-bike anywhere in Saint Paul unless otherwise restricted (controlled-access freeways). You can ride on streets, bike trails and shared use paths, and bike lanes. You may ride on a sidewalk outside of business districts. The electric bicycle vendors are required to allow trips to start or stop anywhere within Saint Paul municipal boundaries.

   In 2023, our Lime e-bikes also operate in Minneapolis, at the University of Minnesota Saint Paul and Minneapolis campuses, and in Minneapolis Parks. You can ride an e-bike between all of these places.

5. Where can I find e-bikes in Saint Paul?

   You will find e-bikes across Saint Paul, with a larger concentration in and around Downtown. The e-bike and scooter vendors are limited from placing all of their vehicles Downtown, and they are required to deploy 30 percent of their vehicles to Areas of Concentrated Poverty, a geography defined by the Metropolitan Council.

   To locate an e-bike near you, use the Lime e-bike vendor app, which can be downloaded for free.

6. Who can rent an e-bike?

   The City allows the vendors to establish the terms of the rental agreement with users. Generally, vendors require that users be a minimum of 18 years old and have a debit/credit/prepaid payment card available.

7. How can I rent a shared e-bike?

   Users must first download the app created by the e-bike company on their smartphones to locate and rent the scooters.

   Users will need to create an account and enter into a rental agreement with the shared bike or scooter companies, including entering payment information into the app. There are in-app instructions walking users through the rental process, and the app usually requires you to acknowledge certain rules for riding and parking.

   Generally, users use a map-based interface within the app to locate an available e-bike, scan the QR code on the bicycle, and begin the ride. Once the ride is complete, users need to park the vehicle in an appropriate location (a bike rack or in a part of the boulevard/furnishing zone not blocking a sidewalk, on a curb ramp, at a bus stop or in front of a building entrance), and then use the app again to end the ride. The app will prompt a user to take and submit a photograph of the bicycle parked in the correct position.

8. How much does it cost to rent a shared e-bike?

   Rental rates are determined independently by the vendor. The City does not regulate rental rates. Typically, shared bike and scooter companies will charge a fee to unlock a vehicle, in addition to a per-minute fee for the duration of the ride. The City charges additional per-ride fees in the city and any rides beginning or ending in parks.

9. Are there programs to make the e-bikes more affordable for all users?

   Yes! Users with limited incomes may be eligible for Access programs, which offer reduced price rental rates. Each vendor has its own program. Visit the company websites for more information:

   Lime: https://www.li.me/why/community/lime-access

10. When are shared e-bikes available to rent in Saint Paul?

    The operating season in Saint Paul is typically from mid-April to mid-November each year. The e-bike vendor(s) choose their own operating hours during the day. Vehicles that have a low charge or are damaged may not be available to rent, but for the most part an e-bike parked in the public right-of-way are available to rent.

11. What are shared e-bikes?

    Shared e-bikes are privately-owned electric-assisted bicycles available to rent within the City of Saint Paul. The bicycles must meet the definitions of an electric-assisted bicycle as defined in Minnesota Statute 169.011, Subd. 27.

    The e-bikes currently operating in Saint Paul provide an electric assist to a rider who is pedaling the bicycle.

    The shared vehicles are intended for the general use of the public, who must download and use the apps provided by the vendors to access the vehicles. Vehicles must be parked appropriately in the public right-of-way, not blocking sidewalks, and riders must follow all applicable laws pertaining to riding bicycles in Saint Paul.

12. How do shared e-bikes benefit Saint Paul?

    Shared e-bikes are part of a larger, citywide effort to encourage safe, affordable, and sustainable ways for people to travel around the city. Residents and visitors benefit from having multiple options to choose from when traveling around Saint Paul. These shared bicycles can provide an affordable alternative to driving, and can provide “last-mile” connections for transit users to get where they need to go.

    These types of alternatives to driving in motor vehicles are also part of Saint Paul’s work to meet the goals of the City's Climate Action and Resilience Plan, which includes targets for reducing the percentage of people traveling in single-occupancy vehicles and reduction in per-person vehicle miles traveled.

13. What is the agreement between the City and the shared e-bike vendors?

    The e-bike vendors must have an annual agreement with the City of Saint Paul, which specifies payments for each trip starting or ending in Saint Paul, as well as payment for trips that start or end in City parks. 

    The City uses these funds to help oversee the contracts with the company and cover costs for materials related to the shared e-bike system. The agreements specify the details about when and where vehicles are allowed to operate, as well as what the roles and responsibilities are for the vendors and the City, respectively. 

    These agreements are typically completed in the first quarter of each year, before the annual shared mobility season starts (typically mid-April to mid-November).

14. What data does the City receive from the shared e-bike vendors?

    The City's annual operating agreements require that the vendors provide the City with trip data. This identifies where and how the shared vehicles are used. Trip data includes information such as the location of start/end points, route, and duration of each trip. The location data is rounded to a degree that maintains privacy for users. The City does not collect or receive any information identifying the users of e-bikes.