BALTIMORE, MD (June 27, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) Director Corren Johnson announced that the city has awarded its newest round of dockless vehicle permits.  This will be the 5th round of dockless permits issued since the e-scooter and e-bike permit program launched in 2019. The new dockless permits have been awarded to two companies: Spin and Lime.

“We are committed to providing equitable and accessible transportation options for the residents of Baltimore, and shared mobility has become just one of the integral parts of our broader transportation system,” said Mayor Brandon Scott.  “The city's existing vendor Spin will continue to operate in Baltimore City based on its proven performance record, and in an important step for a greener and more accessible Baltimore, we are excited to announce that Lime is bringing 500 e-bikes to the city and will now be able to offer adaptive vehicle rentals for individuals with disabilities.”

The city’s dockless program launched in the summer of 2018 as a pilot initiative and has become an integral part of Baltimore’s transportation infrastructure.  Through this program, Baltimore residents and visitors can conveniently rent e-scooters and e-bikes as a fun and sustainable way to travel.  Dockless e-scooters and e-bikes are equipped with GPS technology so they can be easily located, rented, and parked through a smartphone app or text-to-unlock plan.  Painted parking corrals have been installed by BCDOT throughout the city to encourage courteous dockless parking, and riders that utilize the corrals will receive discounts on their trips.

More than 1.3 million dockless trips were taken in 2023, in many cases replacing travel which would have been done in personal vehicles.  In May 2024 alone, approximately 110,000 trips were taken on dockless vehicles.

The new permits were awarded after annual revisions to the Rules and Regulations and a 30-day public comment period.  The existing permit holder, Spin, was awarded a permit renewal based on compliance with city regulations and positive community ratings.  The remaining permit was awarded through a competitive application process.  A review panel of BCDOT and Baltimore City Department of Planning representatives scored the applicants using a strict rubric to assess how companies meet Baltimore’s needs for a sustainable, safe, and equitable transportation option.

The two companies selected provide unique services and offer a variety of vehicle types to meet the needs of different riders:

• Spin will continue to serve Baltimore with their e-scooters and e-bikes branded in orange.
• Lime will return to Baltimore with their e-scooters, seated e-scooters, expanded fleet of e-bikes, and an adaptive vehicle rental program. Lime vehicles have green branding.

“This newest round of dockless vehicle permits will help to close first-and-last mile gaps to transit for Baltimoreans," said Director Johnson. 

Under the new permits, Spin and Lime will abide by the revised program regulations developed by BCDOT and its partners. These regulations affect fleet size, parking requirements, rider education, equity of access, vehicle standards, and data reporting.  The awarded permits will become active July 1, 2024, and will expire on June 30, 2025, with the possibility of extension.

More information about Baltimore’s Dockless Vehicle Program can be found at: https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/bike-baltimore/dockless-vehicles.

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