'EVERYBODY LIMES'
This piece explores the role of e-bikes in Sydney city via photographer Nick Gascoine's most recent exhibition 'Everybody Limes'. In addition, enjoy a video produced by Mitch Morison documenting Nick on one of his photo missions.
Words by Mike Vockenson, photos by Nick Gascoine
Alchemy Studio sits on the fringes of Sydney's inner western suburbs. A rough facade presents to the street, a veil to the chic, elegant core. The studio is run by a bunch of BMXers and has featured many a bike related event in the past. Most recently, 'Everybody Limes', the 5th solo exhibition of Sydney based photographer Nick Gascoine.
Fashionably late, having now absorbed the suite of images and the associated video by Mitch Morison, the chance to showcase the work of some OG heads in the BMX community was too inviting to pass up.
While the exhibition is but a memory, the video lives on and the chance to appreciate the imagery and 'Everybody Limes' concept more broadly remains within reach.
Read on to find out more about the project and how electric bikes are transforming the way we move.
As Nick explains to Hung Supply in reference to the genesis of the project:
"I ride around Sydney a lot, and after seeing every type of Sydneysider flying around town, I just felt like I had to start documenting it. The Lime bike catches people in the middle of their day—they haven’t dressed to ride a bike, and I think that’s what’s so interesting about it. The bikes have become part of the urban landscape in ways that other public transport is—adorned with graffiti and the sweat of its citizens."
For Nick, living this experience and in combination with his photographic eye, it seemed like a unique opportunity to document not only the wave of Lime bikes across Sydney, but to observe and capture the rider; the humble pusher of pedals, the bringer of a new energy to a landscape otherwise dominated by the anonymous lump of a vehicle.
Anecdotally, the rise of the Lime bike as an accepted and legitimate form of transport has started to have a measureable impact on the atmosphere of Sydney city. Nick attributes this in part to both improved pathway networks as well as pedestrians taking an accommodating stance (as detailed below, both these themes have been barriers to previous bike share operators).
As I'm writing this, and now having had time to better observe the photos and chat with Nick about the project, the following quote aligns really well with how the photos 'speak':
"It brings a smile to my face watching a group of friends fly down the road onto the next adventure dressed in the most inappropriate riding attire but still having a great time. There’s a lot of open toed shoes getting around which is concerning though haha."
It's spontaneity in flight, an unprogrammed catalogue of the renaissance of Sydney in terms of how it's occupants are en route to reimagining patterns of movement. While it might seem innocuous, and more than likely certainly does to anyone not living in a high density, urban centre, there is enough evidence to show that the uptake of micromobility is beginning to take shape in its inevitable arc of revolutionising how people move around a city.
"That really was one of the great parts of doing this body of work - because everyone had either a lime bike story of their own or had seen something happening on a lime bike that stuck with them."
Before we go any further - who is Lime what is a Lime bike?
Lime is a global, micromobility company specialising in (dockless, shared) electric scooters and bikes. Run by two fellas out of Silicon Valley, the company has gone from a venture capital start-up to a multi-billion dollar entity operating in hundreds of cities all around the world.
The uniqueness of a Lime bike is that it's pedal assisted, dockless and easily accessible (in terms of quantity and technology). While this isn't a new concept (think oBike), the previous attemps to impregnate Australian streets with shared bikes were in large part a failure due to operational sustainability and poor management. They quickly became a visual and physical burden and were not as convenient and accessible as the consumer demands.
Lime have observed these failures and to date, delivered a far superior arrangement, providing sturdier bikes that are harder to vandalise, improved technology and pedal assist with more effective and longer lasting batteries. It would seem that this has resulted in riders being less likely to abandon and vandalise, which in turn has brough the wider public on board.
I'm certainly not on the Lime payroll, but it seems pretty clear that these guys are serious about this being a success and are willing to front the resources required to ensure it's long term integration as a convenient and modern form of transport.
"They're free, I'm free, we're all just moving together as one"
When I say that Lime is successful (acknowledging that there are other operators of share bikes in Sydney, although Lime are clearly the dominant player), I mean that since it's introduction to Sydney in 2018, the numbers are nuts.
According to the Micromobility Dashboard, in August 2019 there were 1800 e-bike trips per day. This figure has now risen to approximately 19,000 in September 2025. A steady rise over the 6 year period with a total number of 9.2 million trips. When including all forms of micromobility (scooters, bikes and the associated electric versions), market research suggests a compounding annual growth rate of 16% up to 2030.
Lime claim to have facilititated 1.5 million trips in Sydney over a 3 year period.
While private capital is flowing and community acceptance grows, there are still barriers to be overcome to harness the trend and ensure it's long term success. A 2024 decision by the City of Sydney addresses some of these issues, including funding for improving pathway networks, dealing with cluttering of unused bikes and the safety/access of non-riders along shared pathways and public spaces. It's awesome to see the machine of government acknowledge the benefits and take practical steps to facilitate more people on bikes.
While BMXers know good and well the benefit of riding bikes, when applied to the laymen and at a material scale, there's scope for genuine, long-term positive shifts. Take for example the fact that almost half of all Australian commuter trips are by car and under 10km. Enabling bikes and other forms of micromobility to absorb this share would be incredible for human health, the way we design and live in cities as well as environmental benefits.
Most importantly, how sick would it be to have more people riding bikes in general. Can you imagine what a city might look like if the majority of fools are on foot and bikes rather than in cars? A reconfiguration of building design and public space, so much more room for people and vastly less roads and parking facilities (i.e. more spots).
Merely a month before publishing this article, Lime announced the roll-out of an upgraded fleet to be dispersed amongst the streets of Sydney. Described as the 'next generation' LimeBike, it features an easy to use helmet lock (keeping the lid clean and easily accessible), horizontal phone stand, lower standover, modular (easy to repair) design, improved location accuracy and ergonomic grip design.
On top of this, Lime promise to deliver more parking areas to more conveniently find and leave the bikes, as well as benefits for subscription holders with cheaper and simpler trips. So for $5 (USD) you can have unlimited monthly trips.
That's enough Lime sucking for now. Having no connection to being able to benefit from this scene, it nonetheless gets me hyped to hear of bikes having a win over cars, in whatever shape or form.
As Lime plots its advance further into the DNA of Sydney, so too does Nick - indicating that there are plans for further exhibitions, perhaps even in quick succession. Be on the lookout for an evening lovers series, something I can easily envision with the approach, motivation and eye of the dude.
Bikes for the win.
