Decatur’s EScooter interim operating agreement officially took effect Jan. 25 with Bird Rides, the company with the most scooters littered throughout the city, not signing. LimeBike was the only company committing to the agreement. Decatur won’t allow any company to place scooters, longboards and stand up electric scooters within city limits without signing the agreement.
City Manager Andrea Arnold said she hopes a permanent ordinance will get approved in the next three months.
The agreement sets a number of parameters including: where to ride (not on sidewalks) and where to park (you can’t block pedestrian/wheelchair/fire hydrant access). Scooters are limited to 75 per company and a maximum of 50 per company within a one-mile radius of downtown. It’s also a requirement of LimeBike (and Bird) that riders must wear helmets and be a minimum 18 years old.
Actual enforcement will come when the ordinance is passed.
Arnold said she didn’t know how many scooters are currently left in the city, or how many Bird pulled from circulation.
“Bird sent an email saying they weren’t prepared to sign our agreement,” Arnold said, “but they were complementary about the process. They worked closely with us and collaborated on the agreement, but for reasons unforeseen they didn’t sign. We will continue to work with them.”
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