The Joys of Dott and Lime

One of the joys of our recent trip was renting app-based e-bikes from Dott (in Liège) and Lime (in Rotterdam).

The scheme is similar for both. First, you download their app and set up an account and payment method. Once you’ve down that, it’s as simple as walking up to a bike, by happenstance or by locating one on the map in the app, and scanning a QR code. The bike unlocks, and off you ride

There are various rules in place, depending on the city, for where you can leave bikes. Liège seemed generally more permissive, whereas Rotterdam had more restrictions. Once you’ve found a legal place to leave the bike, you “end the ride” in the app, the bike locks, and off you walk. It’s very freeing to be able to just leave the bike, move on, and find another one later on if needed.

The bikes were powerful, at least compared to the Dutch bikes, powered by our legs. If you’ve never ridden an e-bike, it can feel like getting on a horse and immediately galloping. Or like you’re a superhero. Hilly terrain is reduced from a pain in the ass to a little bit of extra pedalling. 

We had bicycle helmets with us to use on our cycle tour from Brussels to Bruges; despite helmet usage in Belgium and the Netherlands being optional (and relatively rare, though increasing), we wouldn’t have ridden without them. It was worth the additional layer of safety to cart them around with us, and after a while it was just natural to have them with us.

In both Liège and Rotterdam they ended up being our primary way of getting around, and in both cases I think doing so enhanced our relationship with the cities and their geography.

Both cities are extremely bicycle friendly, with cycleways or dedicated bicycle lanes almost everywhere. Many intersections have dedicated bicycle cycling (with call buttons located a bicycle height, convenient to the path). By comparison, cycling in Charlottetown feels barbaric.

There were times, especially in Rotterdam, that having powerful e-bikes under us, while riding through the chaotic life of the city, with myriad other bikes and pedestrians and cars, felt just on the edge of too much.

But we made our way. And it was generally a joy.