The latest trend in the bikeshare movement has hit part of the Route 1 corridor: Electric mopeds.

Designed by Lime, which also makes bikes, e-bikes and scooters available for short-term rentals using its app, the electric mopeds made their debut in D.C., which earlier this month became the first city in the world to offer them.

In recent weeks, a number of the 600 mopeds in D.C. have been spotted around the Woodridge neighborhood on Rhode Island Ave., just up the street from Mount Rainier.

The electric mopeds are a little more involved than other bikeshare options.

Before using the moped, users have to take a photo that matches their driver’s license and another showing they are wearing a provided helmet, and an infrared sensor notifies Lime when a user takes the helmet out of its case.

Customers who repeatedly use a moped without a helmet will be barred from the app.

You can rent the electric moped by the minute for $0.39 minute and when you download the app you can get your first ride free. People interested in using the mopeds can also sign up for a free 45-minute in-person training from an instructor certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

It remains to be seen if mopeds will become a bigger part of the bikeshare movement, which aims to reduce the need for cars for trips under five miles and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

But they may be another solution in College Park and in other areas of the Route 1 corridor where a lot of people need to make short trips including around the University of Maryland campus, the Discovery District and the Station at Riverdale Park, among other nearby locales.

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