City puts the brakes on scooters
UNITED STATES: San Francisco is ordering three companies that began renting motorised foot-pedal scooters in the city last month to stop operating until they can ensure riders are obeying state laws and that the devices are not a hazard to the public.
City Attorney Dennis Herrera says in letters to LimeBike, Bird and Spin that the city has received numerous complaints of riders whizzing past pedestrians on sidewalks, not wearing helmets, and parking the devices on sidewalks, obstructing the right of way.
Despite previous warnings, the scooter companies are ‘‘creating a public nuisance on the city’s streets and sidewalks and endangering public health and safety,’’ he says.
Hundreds of the scooters began appearing around the tech-friendly city in March, and were quickly picked up by riders. But they have become an annoyance for many because they do not require docking stations and can be left anywhere when a ride is over.
California law requires riders of motorised scooters to wear a helmet, not carry passengers and not operate on sidewalks. The rules appear in videos riders must watch and sign off on when they download the cellphone app that unlocks the scooters.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors yesterday approved legislation requiring the scooter companies to have transit agency permits to operate and to allow public workers to remove scooters without permits from streets or sidewalks, and establishing fines. ‘‘Sidewalks are for pedestrians and strollers and disabled individuals and wheelchairs,’’ said the law’s author, Supervisor Aaron Peskin.
Santa Monica, California-based Bird Rides said it had started a pilot programme requiring San Francisco riders to take a photo showing how they had parked the scooter at the end of their trip. Users who repeatedly violated the rules would be suspended.
Santa Monica’s city attorney in December filed a criminal complaint against Bird, saying the company was operating without a permit and had ignored orders to remove the scooters from sidewalks. Bird pleaded no contest and agreed to pay more than US$300,000 in fines.