Gotcha scooters taken off Nashville streets

The field of scooters in Nashville has gotten even smaller.

Just a few weeks after the Metro Council voted to reduce fleet sizes and implement several immediate changes to how electric scooters operate on Metro streets, Gotcha Mobility has pulled its scooters out of Nashville.

“After much thought and consideration, Gotcha has made a tough decision to discontinue the operation of our scooters in the city of Nashville,” Caroline Passe, the group’s public relations director, said in a statement to The Tennessean.

Gotcha, Passe said, officially pulled out of Nashville on Wednesday after it notified Metro officials. The company, she said, plans to focus on exclusive markets.

“We founded Gotcha on a commitment to partnership and collaboration with universities and cities to help solve fundamental transportation challenges through sustainable mobility options,” Passe said. “While we aim to offer these solutions in as many places as possible, we can’t do it all. We need to focus our resources on cities where we can make a more effective and lasting impact.”

Gotcha was one of seven scooter companies operating in Nashville, before a selection process begins in a few months to choose up to three operators to stay in the city.

Bird, Lime, Spin, Uber’s Jump, Lyft and Bolt have several weeks to show their commitment to making real changes to address ongoing safety concerns.

If not, the Metro Council has an option Aug. 20 to vote for a complete and full ban with legislation by council member Steve Glover.