Jump (transportation company)

Social Bicycles Inc.

File:Jump Bikes logo.svg
Trade name	JUMP
Industry	Shared mobility
Founded	2010 (2010)
Founder	Ryan Rzepecki
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Fate	Acquired by Lime $170M
Headquarters	San Francisco, California, United States
Areas served	12 US cities, Auckland, Wellington, Berlin, Lisbon, London, Montréal, Munich, Paris, Rome, Melbourne
Services	Bicycle sharing Scooter sharing
Parent	Uber (2017–2020)

Jump (presented as JUMP) was a dockless electric scooter and electric bicycle bicycle-sharing system available in the United States, New Zealand, Canada, France, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Australia. The bicycles were distinguished by their bright red-orange color and had a weight of . Users accessed the bikes through the Uber application and payments were processed via their Uber accounts.

Each Jump bicycle was equipped with a 250-watt motor that powered the front wheel. Jump staff replaced battery units every three days. At the conclusion of each ride, bikes were required to be secured to sidewalk racks.

In April 2018, Uber acquired Jump and began expanding its presence into European markets by June of that year. Later in May 2020, Lime purchased Jump from Uber in a transaction valued at $170 million.

History

Founded in 2010 as Social Bicycles, Inc., Jump launched its bike-sharing service in 2013. By 2018, the company managed a fleet of 15,000 bikes across six countries and had recorded over 5 million rides. The brand officially changed its name to Jump in January 2018.

In February of that year, Uber incorporated Jump’s e-bikes into its San Francisco app. Two months later, Uber acquired Jump for approximately US$200 million. Following the acquisition, Jump initiated its expansion into European cities starting June 2018.

By October 2018, Jump introduced a scooter-sharing service alongside its electric bikes in Santa Monica and operated 4,000 bikes across 13 cities. In December, the company revealed enhancements including an onboard computer for the front wheel, improved electric assistance features, and batteries designed for quick swapping.

In May 2020, Uber transferred ownership of Jump’s e-bike and scooter operations to Lime as part of an investment agreement. Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, emphasized Lime’s operational capabilities as essential for growing a sustainable micromobility business amid the challenges COVID-19 posed to Uber’s ridesharing division. Following this transition, Uber decommissioned thousands of older Jump vehicles due to concerns over maintenance and safety.

Lime reintroduced Jump bikes in key US and European cities by June 2020 with pricing structures aligned to Lime’s existing model. By August that year, JUMP bikes were fully integrated into the Lime app platform, allowing users to reserve rides up to 30 minutes ahead—double the previous reservation window offered through Uber’s app. As of September 2020, JUMP bikes remained accessible via both Lime’s and Uber’s applications.

United States

The service debuted in Washington, D.C., in September 2017 and expanded to San Francisco in January 2018 as that city’s inaugural dockless bike-share program. In May 2018, Jump extended operations to Santa Cruz and Sacramento in California; Sacramento later saw the introduction of dedicated charging stations within the same year. A six-month pilot began in Chicago’s South Side in June 2018 but was discontinued after regulatory discussions with city officials. On July 2nd of that year, Jump launched services in Austin, Texas.

In New York City, Jump e-bikes became available under a municipal pilot program starting July 2018 in Central Bronx and Staten Island neighborhoods. Expansion continued with entry into Denver by August 2018. By September of that year, operations started in Providence, Rhode Island; however, this program was suspended indefinitely due to issues related to theft and vandalism. Additionally, the company received authorization to deploy up to 500 e-bikes and 250 e-scooters within Santa Monica.

December 2018 saw further growth with new launches in Atlanta and San Diego markets across the United States.

Europe

Jump initiated its European presence in June 2018 by launching its electric bike-sharing service in Berlin, marking the beginning of its continental expansion under Uber’s ownership. The service extended to Paris by April 2019 and then to London in May 2019. By November 2019, Jump had expanded operations to Lisbon and Rome. In the same month, Lime introduced the JUMP brand in Rotterdam, signifying the company’s debut in the Dutch market. Throughout most European countries, Jump bikes have gradually been replaced by Lime’s latest Generation 4 models, reflecting a strategic move to upgrade products and strengthen market positioning.

Canada

Uber revealed plans in September 2018 to introduce Jump in Montreal, aiming to launch the city’s first dockless bike-sharing system. Jump officially entered the Canadian market in June 2019 by acquiring operational contracts from Hamilton Bike Share. While monthly subscribers and Pay-as-you-Go users gained access to Jump’s customer support, Hamilton Bike Share continued managing its subsidized passes for low-income riders. Nevertheless, due to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on business viability, Jump’s SoBi Hamilton operations were discontinued on June 1, 2020.

New Zealand

In June 2019, Jump debuted its e-scooter offerings in Wellington, entering a competitive landscape alongside local scooter provider Flamingo and dockless bike operator Onzo. The company further expanded its presence to Auckland in January 2020 by introducing both scooters and electric bikes. Following the reissuance of operating permits by the Auckland Council in mid-2020, Lime relaunched Jump-branded scooters and e-bikes in September.

Australia

Jump vehicles are active in select Australian cities; however, most have been rebranded under Lime’s identity, reflecting the transition from Jump branding to Lime across these locations.