Lime and Pedal Me team up to join vaccination race

Transport operators are rallying to get vulnerable people to their vaccination appointments

Lime, an e-bike provider operating in several cities within the UK, has partnered with e-cargo and passenger bike service Pedal Me to give Londoners free rides to and from their COVID-19 jabs to ensure the capital’s vaccination centres are accessible for all as more and more Londoners prepare to get vaccinated in the coming months.

The “Ride to Recovery” initiative, which forms part of Lime’s £1 million investment in its Lime Aid and Access policies in the UK, will see Londoners given a code for four free rides to use to travel to and from their jab appointments at any point this year.

With more than 40 per cent of London households without direct access to a car, Lime says “Ride to Recovery” is aimed at ensuring London’s vaccination centres are easy to reach for everyone, including those who don’t have cars, or have concerns about using public transport at this time.

Londoners will be able to choose whether to use the code to cycle independently to their local centre via a Lime e-bike, or use Pedal Me’s passenger bike service. The code will be provided to all existing Lime and Pedal Me users via email, with all Londoners able to download either app to access the free rides too.

As part of Ride to Recovery, Lime says it is also in talks to deploy bikes directly at London’s key vaccine centres for patients and staff to use free of charge. The initiative builds on Lime’s pre-existing support for key workers in London, with over 10,000 free rides already provided to frontline workers in the capital via their “Lime Aid” policy launched in October 2020.

“Our Ride to Recovery initiative demonstrates the critical role e-bikes services can play in keeping people, and cargo, moving in cities,” said Ben Knowles, CEO and Co-Founder of Pedal Me.

“We’re excited to be offering this free service in partnership with Lime to help Londoners access vaccinations safely, conveniently and sustainably – helping the Capital to recover as we move through the pandemic.”

Alan Clarke, Director of Policy and Government Affairs for UKIN at Lime added: “We’re proud to be partnering with Pedal Me to provide free rides to all Londoners due to receive their COVID jabs in the coming months.

“Our Ride to Recovery initiative will give anyone that needs it a safe, socially distanced way of travelling to and from their vaccine appointment. It’s an important journey, and we want to ensure no one is left behind.”

Lime is the latest transport operator to offer its services n the battle to get as many vaccinations delivered as possible in a short period of time. Uber, Bolt, and Addison Lee have all offered free or discounted rides for Londoners travelling to and from the large vaccination hubs as the UK Government looks to reach its target of vaccinating the 15 million most vulnerable people before 15 February.