EDITORIAL

a vendor is authorized to operate “based on demand and usage.”

Another potentially troublesome section of the regulations is the seemingly arbitrary limit that vendors may keep no more than a quarter of their fleet in the city’s central business district, as defined by the service department, in a 48-hour period. But again, that’s a number the regulations say the director can adjust as needed.

After all, this is just an initial attempt for the city to weigh in regarding some right-of-way issues such as not leaving scooters in street parking spots, in doorways and loading zones or blocking pedestrians on sidewalks. The rules will continue to evolve.

What’s missing in this first round of regulations are clear explanations of intent and rationale. Whether and how the city wants to work motorized scooters into overall mobility plans should be spelled out in coming weeks as the mayor’s office drafts legislation for operational regulation and as Columbus City Council takes up the issue when it returns in mid-September from its summer recess.

The city will be smart to slow down and think through how best to work with — not against — entrepreneurs who are also interested in revolutionizing transit for tomorrow.

In the meantime, helmet use is strongly advised for those using the scooters — and maybe even by the pedestrians in their paths.