As Seattle’s vaccine efforts ramp up, car sharing companies are offering free rides to appointments

And while securing an appointment can be half the battle, reaching the actual appointment can be a hindrance for those who don’t have a reliable means of transportation. To improve access, several car sharing companies and other micromobility providers in Seattle are offering free rides to vaccine appointments.

LINK Scooter Share is currently offering free electric scooter rides about vaccinations for residents who apply online. According to LINK, every resident who leaves for their vaccine appointment will be credited with $ 20 in their account. The service currently operates in neighborhoods such as downtown Seattle, West Seattle, Delridge, South Park, and Georgetown.

Another micromobility option for short-distance riders are lime bikes and scooters. The company offers two free trips of up to 15 minutes each way for those traveling to and from appointments using the promo code SEARIDETORECOVERY.

“We want everyone to get to and from their vaccine appointment easily, safely, and cheaply, including those who don’t own a car or are looking for an open air transportation option,” said Wayne Ting, CEO of Lime.

For those needing to travel a long distance or need to drive through, GIG Car Share is also offering to reimburse all Seattle residents up to an hour for trips to their vaccine appointment by June 15.

GIG is owned by AAA and was launched in Seattle in July 2020 with just 250 hybrid-electric Toyota Priuses. The cars have fled by swimming, which means they can be parked anywhere within the designated “HomeZone” areas and not need to be brought back to a specific station.

With many of the city’s car sharing companies leaving in recent years, GIG has managed to capitalize on the dwindling options in the market and even expand its fleet and footprint to serve more parts of the city.

GIG Auto in Seattle.

Gig Car Share

“This offering gives Gig an opportunity to remove at least one obstacle so residents can safely travel to their vaccination appointment,” said Jason Haight, president of Gig Car Share, in a press release.

Several public transit companies are also offering free rides to vaccine appointments to encourage more residents to get the bump. Sound Transit offers free round-trip transportation to Lumen Field and Rainier Beach vaccination sites, and Pierce Transit also offers a similar service.

Residents who need more help finding an appointment should use this tool to see all of the options.