The Time Has Come: Alexandria City Council To Decide on E-Scooter Fate
Feelings are mixed on the city's Dockless Mobility Pilot Program, and by many accounts extending the program for another year is going to be a close vote.
Alexandria, VA – The electric scooter has been a controversial addition to Alexandria roadways and sidewalks, and after a year of discussion it all boils down to a decision by the City Council. Feelings are mixed on the city’s Dockless Mobility Pilot Program, and by many accounts extending the program for another year is going to be a close vote. The Alexandria City Council will decide on extending the pilot program at its public hearing on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Look: Watch Out! Alexandria Is Abuzz Over Electric Scooters!
City staff are requesting the following changes to the memorandum of understanding:
- Increase the permit fee to $10,000 per application and $75 per device
- Require that scooter companies give the city an operations plan that will outline deployment, removal, and relocation of scooters for multiple scenarios, including emergency events – at no cost to Alexandria
- A maximum speed of 15 miles per hour
- Scooter companies would be required to notify passengers on dangerous riding conditions, proper parking, and safe riding suggestions
- Scooters should have speedometers
- Companies will be required to operate a minimum of 75 devices and the maximum of 200 devices to be increased at the discretion of the city manager
- If a scooter is improperly parked over a period of two hours it will be impounded by the city and the provider will be charged $150
ICYMI: E-Scooter Update: City Staff Release Scooter Phase II Recommendations
Alexandria’s Scooter Stats:
According to an evaluation of the program by the city, there are:
- 15,000 registered users in Alexandria
- There were 230,000 trips taken in the first nine months of the program
- There were 15 crashes involving scooters with 18 minor injuries and 3 suspected serious injuries
- Between 20-25 percent of scooter trips in Alexandria started or ended near a Metro stop before the summer 2019 Metro shutdown
SEE: Councilman Mo Seifeldein Calls on Scooter Suspension
MORE: Update: Is the City’s Dockless Mobility Program a Godsend? Scourge? Both?
