LimeBike has resumed operations in Dallas, and in addition to the traditional scooters seen around town, Lime will provide electric vehicles and adaptive bicycles for use by persons with disabilities at no charge.
The City of Dallas Commissioner on Disabilities Gay Revi said she tried out the service herself last week and was satisfied.
“Lime is as good as its word,” Revi said. “I scheduled delivery of a scooter on their website. The scooter was delivered to me at the scheduled time. The driver called me about ten minutes in advance to let me know he was on the way. He showed me how to use the scooter, and answered all my questions. He assured me that pickup for return would be tomorrow. There was no charge.”
In addition to scooters, other vehicles are available for people with disabilities who may have certain needs when it comes to transportation and getting around.
“There is a two seater available for a person to actually steer the bicycle and pedal the bicycle and have a passenger who may be maybe too blind or too disabled to really function on the on the tricycle,” Revi said. “That tricycle is an adaptive bicycle. It’ll be a way for that person to be out while being driven around by another person.”
Revi said LimeBike Assist could help meet the needs of the disabled for short-trip, neighborhood transportation.
The Commission for Disabilities is advocating for people with disabilities and has several other projects in the works. They plan to speak with Mozee, which offer driverless, electric, multi-passenger vehicles.
“I see the Mozee vehicle as being a supplement to and from Dart stations,” Revi said. “Just short hops around town.”
Additionally, the Commission is working to enforce fines for people who illegally park in handicap parking spots.
“The state of Texas has passed a law that enables municipalities to impose a fine on people who illegally use handicapped parking spaces, and the fine for the first offense is $500,” Revi said. “The commission is really working to try to get the city to adopt this. We have far too many places — I live in Bishop Arts — where people are parking illegally on handicapped spots, blocking people who really need the spot. So we’ve been really working on that too.”
