Veo Replaces Lime In Grand Rapids On September 1st

While I've been pretty vocal about driver etiquette for years, overall I've been a pretty big fan of the e-bikes and scooters around Grand Rapids. I've had a Onewheel since 2019, and I loved how easy it made getting around. But e-bikes, e-scooters, etc. can be super pricey; these e-bike rentals are cheap transportation around the city and fun on a summer night. However, as scooters and bikes have become more integral to the city's identity, the City of Grand Rapids is making a big change to who you will be renting your bikes, scooters, and more from going forward, beginning this September. Getty Images Getty Images Say goodbye to Lime and its bright green bikes, and hello to Veo. Grand Rapids Enters 3-Year Contract With Veo An official statement from the City of Grand Rapids last week announced that it would pivot away from Lime and enter a 3-year contract with Veo, another micromobility service that operates in over 50 cities across the United States. Grand Rapids will be the first city in Michigan with Veo bikes. READ MORE: Nobody In Grand Rapids Rides The Scooters Correctly But it'll be more than bikes. One of the biggest draws for the City of Grand Rapids is its variety of riding options: seated and standing scooters, e-bikes, and "a few self-balancing trikes". The change here is that, unlike Lime, most of the new rides will be seated. Below is a video showcasing how to use the bikes; anyone who used a Lime bike will be familiar with the system. The City also highlighted that Veo is overall cheaper than Lime per minute of use, and will introduce a new $5/month Veo Access Program that provides 30 minutes of free riding daily. The City also chose Veo because over 50% of the devices are equipped with a radar system "that scans 20 feet ahead to help prevent crashes and reduce sidewalk riding." Personally, that last part has me pretty excited. They are sidewalks, not side streets, so I'm intrigued to see how this system changes rider habits. Either way, there won't be any price raises for at least three years, so that's something to look forward to at least. The Most Iconic Landmarks Around Grand Rapids Members of the Grand Rapids History 1960 and Before Facebook group were posed this question, and a wide variety of answers ensued. Here are the spots you'll recognize. Gallery Credit: Tommy McNeill