Representatives from Lime briefed the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities on Feb. 7 about the company’s efforts to make micromobility inclusive in Austin, and committee members pressed the company on problems caused by improperly parked and vandalized vehicles.

Eli Davis, Lime’s local representative, described several measures Lime uses to reduce sidewalk clutter and improve accessibility: an in‑app safety and parking review that prompts riders to verify parking at trip end, an AI‑assisted parking‑verification tool, a 24/7 customer‑support line, foot‑patrol teams that rebalance and remove vehicles, and a 3‑1‑1 integration to surface community service requests. "We have a commitment with the city to to address all service requests made to us within 2 hours," Davis said, adding that ADA‑sensitive requests are prioritized within one hour.

Davis also described pilot hardware and software intended to reduce GPS drift and improve parking compliance: Bluetooth parking‑precision beacons to localize parking areas and an AI end‑of‑trip review that flags noncompliant parking. Lime said it has begun adding braille labels on devices to help people who are visually impaired identify the company’s customer phone number.

Commissioners and attendees raised usability and environmental concerns. One commissioner asked how Lime handles devices that have been vandalized or "jailbroken" and end up in waterways or difficult‑to‑reach areas. Company staff described two operational teams that retrieve out‑of‑area vehicles and said waterlogged vehicles are taken to a warehouse and sent through a recycling or end‑of‑life process; the company said water‑compromised lithium batteries are not reused. A Lime operations staff member described their battery casings as meeting IP65 protection standards and said submerged batteries may discharge and become unusable; the company said the parts are recycled.

Committee members said the company’s technology and education measures help riders who follow rules but do not yet resolve consistent sidewalk obstruction for people using assistive devices. "We're not mature enough for it, honestly," one commissioner said, describing repeated problems with vehicles left in walkways. Other commissioners asked Lime to collect questions and provide written follow‑up; Lime provided contact emails for local staff.

No committee motion or vote was taken on Lime’s presentation; the company offered to collect follow‑up questions and continue the conversation.