Milton adopts moratorium on e-scooter business applications

Companies seeking to rent e-scooters, a common sight on Atlanta streets, will run into a six-month moratorium in Milton. ALYSSA POINTER/AJC FILE

Companies seeking to rent e-scooters, a common sight on Atlanta streets, will run into a six-month moratorium in Milton. ALYSSA POINTER/AJC FILE

Milton is the latest metro Atlanta municipality to act on the issue of e-scooters and bicycles by adopting a six-month moratorium affecting companies that seek to rent the devices.

The City Council approved a staff request for a moratorium on accepting applications for occupational tax certificates for the operation of “Shareable Dockless Mobility Devices.”

“The emergency moratorium is necessary in order to allow staff adequate time to write regulations as it pertains to electric scooters operating within the city,” according to an agenda memo to the council by Community Development Director Parag Agrawal.

A resolution approved by the council cites “possible safety and aesthetic concerns … including incidents that have resulted in injuries and even death as a result of such devices.” Four people have died in scooter-related accidents in the Atlanta metro area, and several cities have banned scooter rentals.

Milton officials noted that the moratorium does not apply to simply riding e-scooters, only to businesses that seek to rent them.