DC is imposing new restrictions on shared e-bike services after city officials raised concerns that the bikes are being used in teen crime. It is also adding a curfew to help address the rise in juvenile violence. The new rules are part of a broader attempt to address youth crime while balancing public safety concerns.
E-bike providers have existed in DC since 2017, but in recent years the service has rapidly grown in popularity, from 50,000 rides in 2022 to over 1.5 million rides in 2025. This rapid growth has surpassed both the providers and city’s ability to maintain and regulate the service.
As crime reports increase, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has become increasingly concerned that e-bikes are enabling teen crime, with MPD spokesperson Tom Lynch noting that Lime was becoming a “getaway vehicle for juvenile suspects in robberies and assaults.” Mayor Muriel Bowser also acknowledged the issue, stating, “We have some concerns about some of the shared transportation equipment being used to commit crime.”
Overall, teen crime has become a bigger issue in DC. Two teens were recently arrested while attempting to carjack a 19-year-old former DOGE staffer, a case that contributed to President Trump declaring a “crime emergency” in DC.
In response to police raising concerns about the bikes being used for teen crime and misbehavior, Lime and Vevo – two major suppliers – have agreed to lower the maximum speed boost on their bikes across the city. The electric assistance will now peak at 15 mph for VeVo and 18mph for Lime bikes. With assistance being further reduced to 8mph in areas where teens are known to congregate. These changes are in response to multiple cases where the bikes were being used by juvenile suspects for robbery and assault to easily flee the scene of the crime.
Another reason to reduce the electric assistance on the bikes is to improve the safety of both pedestrians and riders after complaints of bikes hitting pedestrians or coming close to crashing into them. Sophomore Alex Grayson told the Beacon that “[he] was walking home from school and someone came zooming past [him] and ran over [his] foot,” Grayson went on to say that he “felt really disrespected.” Similarly Uli Ferrero was “was walking across the street and this guy on an E-Bike was going so fast and almost ran [her] over.”
While these incidents demonstrate how slower speeds benefit pedestrians, critics say forcing cyclists to ride even slower than surrounding cars could further encourage them to ride on the sidewalks.
In addition to speed restrictions, Lime also recently adjusted the pricing of its “Lime Access” program, which gives low-income residents unlimited rides. They initially raised their prices from $5 to $30 per month, but after significant pushback the price was lowered to $15 a month. They have also increased their per-minute prices and introduced dynamic pricing – where costs vary depending on demand, location, and time – as a way to increase profit and manage higher costs. For some, these changes have been noticeable, with Ryoma Smith stating that he “used to use them every day but then realized how quickly it added up and had to stop.”
DC has also tried to address teen issues with temporary curfews after multiple large, sometimes violent nighttime gatherings. Over the summer, the city instated a 90-day curfew focused on restricting large gatherings of teens around high traffic areas such as U-Street and the Waterfront. However, during the curfew, police made no juvenile arrests.
After the initial curfew ended, teens were arrested in the Navy Yard, leading to the City Council passing an extension of the teen curfew until April. The curfew allows the police chief and mayor to declare temporary curfew zones where people 17 or younger will be banned from gathering in groups of more than eight after 8 p.m. Council support is not unanimous with council member Christina Herderson saying “The curfew is just a tool … It’s not the solution, and it won’t solve all of [DC’s] particular issues here.” Even council members who voted in favor of the curfew agreed that the DC government should follow up with less restrictive ideas to solve the problem of large violent gatherings, such as creating more safe spaces for teens. •