Shared micromobility operator Lime got time on the red carpet last night after Timothée Chalamet showed up to a London movie premiere on an e-bike.
At the Bob Dylan biopic ‘A Complete Unknown’ premiere, the French-American star was captured by paparazzi swapping a limousine out for a Lime as he took his end-of-ride photo.
Lime’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer Carolyn Chiang Rosebrough expressed the operator’s delight at being Timothee’s ride for the night.
“We love seeing Timothée bring his Lime bike to the red carpet,” Carolyn told Zag Daily. “He’s lived in London, so he knows what Londoners know: Lime is the fastest and most convenient way to travel – and it’s fun. We saw videos of him riding through the city, so it was more than a quick publicity stunt – it was the right decision about how to arrive at his movie premiere.
“As Lime has grown and become essential to people’s lives, we’ve seen many influencers, celebrities and brands recognize us as the better and cooler way to get around. We hope this moment shows that sustainable transportation is both socially conscious and practical –and it’s cool. Our e-bikes and e-scooters are not only the best way to get around cities, but you can look good and have fun doing it.”
Adam Tranter further explored the significance of bikes making an appearance in show business and how this can elevate the desirability of active travel amongst the public. Mr Tranter is the Founder and CEO of Fusion Media – a PR and public affairs agency focused on cycling and the outdoors – and he’s also the Former Cycling and Walking Commissioner for the West Midlands.
“It’s especially important to see moments like this because Hollywood has historically portrayed bikes as lame or the butt of a joke,” Adam said. “But here’s a chance to flip the script and lean into the aspirational nature of cycling. When cultural icons embrace active travel, it normalises cycling, reshaping how we think about everyday journeys and showing that it can be practical, and inclusive but still an opportunity to express yourself.
“The story has made it to every major news and celebrity title, as well as doing the rounds on social media – cycling has had limited moments to reach very broad audiences with a positive image and message so the industry should absolutely lean into the interest.”
In the past few years, celebrities from Harry Styles to Olivia Rodrigo, Kate Hudson and Devin Booker have been spotted riding a Lime bike.
“These organic celebrity sightings, appearances and cultural moments are not coincidental but rather come about from Lime building brand love each and every day as the trusted industry leader,” Carolyn said.
Has Lime satisfied a craving for time spent in showbiz? Not quite.
“Our dream is definitely to see Taylor Swift take one of our vehicles to her show one day since she often performs in cities with great bike lanes.”
