Miami suspends scooter program amid complaints of underage riders and new clutter
Miami is suspending its electric scooter pilot program after being inundated with complaints about clutter and youthful riders congregating downtown.
In a letter to the city’s five scooter providers on Monday, Miami City Manager Arthur Noriega said the program would be suspended effective Dec. 30 until at least Jan. 15.
The scooters had returned in September after being banned in March amid the pandemic. Commissioner Ken Russell, whose District 2 hosts the scooter program, said it had become clear in recent weeks that the restart was not working.
“Whatever is supposed to be happening isn’t happening,” Russell said. “The clutter is greater, the underage riding is greater — and there’s been zero enforcement on the underage stuff.”
The program dictates a scooter company will be fined $100 for underage riding and the user’s account revoked.
“The scooters make downtown Miami look like a slovenly teenager’s bedroom,” downtown resident Brian Gadinsky said in an email to the Miami Herald. “It’s like someone should be saying, … ‘Hey downtown, clean up your room!’ ”
Russell said he had initiated discussions Dec. 21 with the Miami Parking Authority about enforcement issues and subsequently asked the city manager to consider suspending the program in advance of New Year’s Eve events.
“We don’t want to see youth on the streets where someone could get hurt, especially on nights where people are drinking,” Russell said.
The restart dictated there would be 2,700 scooters deployed; it was not immediately clear whether that figure had increased since October. Russell said some companies were now lining up 40-50 scooters in one location.
“It’s just irresponsible behavior — a company is trying to make a buck rather than improve their relationship with the city, or care about safety or aesthetics and making room for pedestrians.”
City officials will meet with scooter providers Jan. 4 to discuss a second restart. Russell said he would demand greater enforcement against underage riding, and that only a limited number of scooters be deposited in any one spot.