Two more e-scooter operators, Bird, Spin, poised to hit streets
Soon, Lime may no longer be the sole operator of dockless scooters in Milwaukee.
Two companies, Bird and Spin, are slated to receive approval to operate fleets Monday, bumping the city’s scooter total from 500 to 1,050. But to ensure proper management of the city’s newest and trendiest transportation option, the Department of Public Works will cap each company’s scooter fleet at 350.
“Each operator’s allowed fleet plan has been scaled back to ensure the number of scooters in circulation are manageable and being used properly,” Commissioner of Public Works Jeff Polenske said in a statement Saturday. “We will frequently assess the fleet size and determine if adjustments need to be made.”
Milwaukee’s e-scooter fleet has sparked pedestrian complaints that users are not riding on the streets as intended. And an analysis by the city appears to support that. Over an eighthour period, 17% of riders observed in the Third Ward, east side and downtown data were not riding on the street, according to the Department of Public Works.
At the same time, the department said it has received fewer complaints about the scooters and greater public support for continued access.
The department also said all operators are aggressively addressing safety issues by hosting events, sending notifications to users and partnering with local community groups, among other strategies.
The scooters are part of a pilot program to increase the city’s transportation options that is slated to run through 2019, but the Milwaukee Public Works commissioner could suspend the program at any point before then.