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Lime Suspends Scooter Service In LA And Across California
(Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Electric scooter company Lime is pulling its scooters off the streets in greater Los Angeles in response to the growing coronavirus outbreak. It's part of an international effort “to help people stay put and stay safe,” Lime founder and CEO Brad Bao wrote in a blog post Tuesday.
The company has suspended service across California, as well as in Washington state, Italy, Spain, and France.
So far, Lime is the only dockless electric vehicle operator to ground its fleet. Bird , Lyft and Jump previously said they’ve increased cleaning and disinfecting of their respective scooters and e-bikes. Employees who handle the dockless vehicles are wearing gloves as a precaution, according to statements from each operator.
The companies are encouraging riders to clean scooters and e-bikes handles with disinfecting wipes before and after riding.
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Another electric vehicle sharing service has also halted operations. Blue LA, which lets drivers rent electric cars through a partnership with LADOT, has been suspended “indefinitely,” according to its website .
The service operates a series of on-street kiosks and stations in central Los Angeles, including Westlake, Koreatown, Echo Park, Boyle Heights and Chinatown.
Blue LA officials said they hope to resume service “as soon as the situation permits.”
Important Information - BlueLA Temporarily Closed pic.twitter.com/ZTSI2IqDwj
— Blink Mobility (@Blink_Mobility) March 16, 2020
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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