Lime or Bird will inevitably sell to Uber, it's just a question of when. : It’s time for scooter startups to find a cozy, protective blanket to get them through the chilly months. For Lime and Bird, that could be Uber . The pair of venture capital darlings, which both operate fleets of electric scooters around the world, are said to be in talks with the SoftBank-backed ride-hailing behemoth about a possible acquisition, as first reported by The Information.