base2 

I found a derelict electric Lime bike. In the beginning of September My wife & I went to a movie theatre in North Seattle. We parked near the loading dock. Near the loading dock & in the bushes in plain view was a Lime bike. We didn't think much of it, the bike share company has 48 or 72 hours or some such time frame to pick up such things. We saw our movie and moved on.

About a month later we returned to the small theatre with it's 50 parking spots and noticed the same bike apparently untouched. This time I made a note of it & figured if it didn't move along in another week or so, I'd report it. Could be it's GPS is broke or it's lost or something.

A week later, I check on it since I my shopping route to Northgate took me on the same road. The bike is still there. So I report it via text messege with picture and through the app. So, 2 ways, I then propped the bike up so it was better visible from the street.

A week later I return (again) to check on it. (Is it free? abandoned? Can I return it to them personally?) I find the bike in plain view, just as I left it. So feeling sorry for the thing, it follows me home.

I've done my due dilligence, reported it, searched the internet, and I simply can not seem to locate a maintenance facility or local office for Neutron Holdings, LLC which owns the darn thing.

I really want Lime to succeed, so adding a bike share complaint to the city isn't really what I'm after. Nor is dealing with the overworked police department for a lost property issue.

Does anyone out there in internet land know who to call or where to take it so it can be returned?

Here is a picture I took when I reported it via the app:

base2 

Flip Flop Rider

just a question, why do you really want lime bike to succeed? Do you view it as improved infra-structure for biking in general, or as a way to reduce traffic in your area? Just interested

base2 

We have a lot of infrastructure in our area, it's a shame to see it unused, or at least under used. We (the people & by extension, government) have provided a framework for a business to operate, I think they should have a fair shot...Yeah, traffic sucks too. I also think that other than car transport needs all the nurturing it can get.

canklecat

Lime and Ofo bailed locally after a controversial* launch. Several new, unused Lime and Ofo bikes were auctioned off cheap and resold via craigslist, so some bikes seen around town are now personal property, not rentals.

*(The "controversy" was partly manufactured by people with a stake in the docked bike rental model. They flooded social media with negative reports. I'm not sure how many ordinary folks really cared one way or another. I never saw Lime or Ofo bikes littering the train/bus stations, but have seen scooters left carelessly in places where pedestrians could stumble near rail tracks. However last week I didn't see any around the Dallas rail stations so either the transit authority got rid of them or I just happened to be passing through on a day when nobody was using rental scooters.)

TimothyH

Neutron Holdings Inc. DBA LimeBike
2121 South El Camino Real

JanMM

Picture shows a bike without a rear wheel. Not exactly a bike.

And no crank arms.

On third look: no battery or hub motor, either. Lime E is an e-bike.
Not exactly a bike.

unterhausen

it didn't strike me at first that someone stole the motor. yeah, they probably don't want it back, but they should take it anyway

Rollfast

That's not a rear rack, it's a mount for the mailbox or newspaper tube...very sad.

JonathanGennick 

There is so little money in those bikes that it probably costs more to send someone to fetch it than any value that remains given the bike's current state. I would have left it for the landowner to deal with.

base2 

Fair points, all.

In no particular order: I figured the phone number was just a generic corporate line. I work for a mega-corp & calling the number listed on the website gets public/media relations I didn't realize the phone number would work for states away. I'll call & see if they would dispatch.

True, It is a public admission, I was also removing it from private property it didn't belong. If posession is 9/10 of the law, the theatre would be responsible too. Stealing of stolen stuff? I see your point, & my wife already groaned about another bike on the porch. I'm keen to be rid of it.

To another: You are also probably right. With so much missing, electric motor, crank arm, battery, wheel, etc... they may not want it back.

Finally, (hope I didn't miss anyone.) The poor rear rack is actually a mount for the battery pack.

I'll call & post what I come up with.

nomadmax 

I'd say the "GPS Tracked" part of that bike isn't working.

jefnvk

At least you got a nice basket and tire for your troubles, but my guess is it is now your junk to deal with.

I tend to agree with @TimothyH about not taking what isn't yours, but I also feel that that is nothing but litter that the property owner (Lime, not building) should deal with, when they obviously have abandoned it. Lack of responsibility for their property is one reason I am less than thrilled about all the dockless transport that has been popping up, without any cooperation with local authorities and seemingly haphazardly and not thought out.

TimothyH

It isn't about just the cost of bikes lying around.

Having a bike with my company name on it laying in the bushes isn't the corporate image I would want to portray. Bright, shiny, beautiful bikes standing upright at the kiosk, ready for you to use for fun and transportation is the image I would want.

I'd have someone out there in two seconds to get it out of sight with apologies to the landowner and a coupon for 15 free miles.

Bird and Lime both have reward programs - people who return their scooters to the charging stations get free miles.


-Tim-

JonathanGennick 

Yes. Good point. I agree.

livedarklions

If they really don't respond, I suggest you use one of the contact numbers on the Seattle Department of Transportation page--my guess is Lime will not want to mess with them:
https://www.seattle.gov/transportati...dot/contact-us

veganbikes

That looks like trash that Lime abandoned and belongs in a dumpster. I wouldn't touch it. I would call local government and file a complaint against Lime for trashing your city.

If the bike weren't total crap I would say put parts on it and ride it but I wouldn't waste my time or money. If you are really wanting to do something good maybe reach out to a local bike charity and see if they will take it. Maybe they can take it off of life support and give it to someone in need.

Juan Foote

In our area there is a company called Coast that handle some/all of the rental bikes...at least I think I am recalling right on the name (that may be the Tampa one) I had a good talk with (one of) the guys who had a hand in making this happen both locales at History Bike Tampa...anywho, I read an article a while back that was discussing the maintenance woes the company was facing. Insomuch that they are paying some tech to use a truck and gas to go around town collecting the bikes back up, attempting to keep them serviceable and get them back to an area where they will be utilized. I am pretty sure the company is subsidized via an initiative that the City of Atlanta started in regards to it's cycling infrastructure improvements. I think there are a dedicated few who use the bikes but as a viable economy of it's own is doomed for failure as it already has in many other places.

Shame, really.

TimothyH

Calm down.

You can't give the bike to a coop or someone in need because it isn't yours to give. It's Lime's property.

I gave the phone number to LimeBike in post 6. Just call 888-546-3345 and the menu says "To report a lost or abandoned bike for pickup, press 3."

It's just an abandoned or stolen bike, not an evil corporate conspiracy to destroy cities.


-Tim-

veganbikes

I view the dockless bike shares and scooters as trash pure and simple. Not a conspiracy just a greedy company who doesn't care about anyone or anything but their own profits. I don't really care for them and the garbage they leave around. I am fine with docked bike shares because you cannot just leave it in the middle of the sidewalk or on a MUP or bike path or whatever. If people were decent and were able to clean up after themselves and be responsible then maybe these dockless programs could work but right now they are a mess and a menace.

jon c. 

If they've pulled out of the area, it's abandoned and they've effectively relinquished property rights. In any case, it's trash and belongs in a dumpster.

Kapusta

Dockless vs docked all depends on the particulars of the town/city. LimeBike is working well in our city.

In this case, it seems to me they have an obligation to pick up their bike. Stories like this don't work well for efforts to break into new markets.

TimothyH

Both the OP and the bike are in Seattle. LimeBike has not pulled out of Seattle.

They have a number to call to report a bike which needs to be picked up. 888-546-3345, option 3.

The OP hasn't reported that he tried that yet.


-Tim-

base2 

So, I just called explaining I was being a good Samaritan trying to return a bike. I tried to pin down an address I could take it to, but no luck. I get the feeling there isn't one.

The customer service agent wanted my name, the plate number and a physical address & she would dispatch someone to pick it up. She sounded deflated when I told her there wasn't much of a bike left, & couldn't tell me the turn around time on dispatching someone for pick up.

I have a feeling it will be prioritized for "next week" for many weeks.

In any case, since I will be at work for many hours yet to come, I told her I will call again when I can get home to read the plate number & move it to the curb so they don't send someone out on what appears to be a snipe hunt.

So I don't get stuck with a subpeona, fine, blacklisting, or whatever, I'm goint to place it at the curb, the bus stop or school next to my house. But not on my property.

livedarklions

Make sure you send her an email or something else in writing stating you're putting it on the curb, otherwise you might be on the hook for theft if it disappears.

Just for future reference and not to make you feel bad, but picking it up was a mistake.
I'm going to go back to my original suggestion--call the Seattle Dept. of Transportation and inform them that Lime is refusing to promptly pick it up, and that you only did because it was there for a long time.

Given that these companies live or die by working things out with the city, I'd be surprised if Lime didn't move very quickly when someone from SDOT called.