Young voters to be offered free e-bike rides in Salford on election day

Young voters have been offered free e-bike rides in Salford during this year’s general election. Lime, the popular e-bike and scooter provider, is offering two minutes of free travel around the city to encourage young people to get out to vote.

The initiative follows a recent survey by Give an X which revealed that one in three young people in England are not registered to vote and around 44% of young people aged 18-34 believe their vote will not make a difference. The initiative is a partnership between Lime and youth campaign Shape History and Give an X, which aims to mobilise young people to vote.

The partnership and initiative aims to address common barriers to voting, such as the cost of travel or lack of car ownership, by providing users with access to a free and more sustainable mode of transport.

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On Election Day, new and existing users will be able to enjoy two free 15-minute journeys using the promo code UKELECTION2024 in the Lime app in Salford, Nottingham, Derby and Milton Keynes. All existing users will be notified via in-app notifications.

There will also be a number of Lime vehicles equipped with e-bike baskets or e-scooter flyers branded “Give an X” reminding people to vote on July 4.

The campaign, dubbed “Lime to the Polls,” also helps launch the “Give an X Challenge,” which brings together some of the world’s biggest brands, celebrities and more than 250 youth organizations to raise awareness about the importance of voting and give young people the opportunity to make their voices heard. The challenge launches today and encourages young people across the country to use social media to show off creative and unique ways to get out to vote on Election Day.

Alice Pleasant, Head of Public Affairs at Lime UKI, said: “Lime is delighted to be part of such an impactful campaign, providing voters with free transport options to get to their polling stations on Election Day in cities across the UK. Access to affordable and convenient transport options should never be a barrier to voting, and we are proud to play our part in enabling Lime riders to get to the polls and take part in the upcoming general election through our Lime to the Polls programme with the ‘Give an X’ campaign.”

Dan Lawes, Head of Partnerships at My Life My Say, said: “As part of the national Give An X campaign, we are delighted to be working with Lime to offer free rides. This initiative is vital in reaching young people where they are, breaking down the barriers that may prevent them from voting in the upcoming UK General Election.

“By providing complementary and sustainable transportation options, we aim to increase voter turnout and empower young people across the country. We are confident that this collaboration will have a significant impact on youth voter turnout and ensure that every young person’s voice is heard.”