City Council members didn't put the
smack down Thursday morning on dockless e-scooters cluttering center-city sidewalks. But they did create a six-month pilot program that gives a stern look to scooter companies and riders.
The new rules include:
- Riders must use bike lanes when available, and ALWAYS yield the right-of-way to pedestrians
- If riders must ride on the sidewalk, they have to make sure they maintain a two-ft. buffer from pedestrians
- Riders must be at least 16 (We're looking at you, 15 year olds. And you, too, 14 year olds.)
- Scooter companies must pay a $500 application and a $100 per scooter application fee
"Today, the city council approved a pilot program providing a light-touch regulatory framework around dockless vehicles, such as electric scooters," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a written statement. "These common-sense rules will improve public safety and enable the city to gather data for enhancing connectivity. We will continue to monitor the implementation of dockless vehicles and ensure that last-mile technology is properly integrated into the transportation system."
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