Scottsdale fights scooters as Tempe tries them out

As cities grapple with the influx of bike-share programs, a new option landed in Scottsdale and Tempe this week: electric scooters.

The black scooters were set up in Old Town Scottsdale and Downtown Tempe, as well as other areas of both cities. Like bicycles that began popping up throughout the East Valley late last year, riders can rent the scooters and then leave them wherever they desire — no rack required.

A California-based company, Bird, introduced the scooters Thursday, adding the two metro Phoenix cities to the growing list of places where it operates, including San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

The reception in Scottsdale was less than welcoming: the city issued the company a cease an desist letter on Friday.

The company received a similar response in Tennessee this week. Nashville officials issued a cease and desist letter two days after Bird rolled the scooters out there, according to The Tennessean.

“The scooters violate the city’s ordinance regulating motorized skateboards,” Scottsdale said in a written statement.

The city manager is setting up a meeting with Bird officials to discuss how to legally operate the scooters in Scottsdale, the statement said.

“The city had requested that the company meet with city staff before beginning operations, but the company did not do so,” the statement says.

In its cease and desist letter, Scottsdale said it will begin issuing citations and impounding scooters if not immediately removed.

Tempe isn’t taking the same tact, although the City Council recently began exploring whether to regulate shared bikes, which some complain are being left in neighborhoods and other spots they don’t belong.

Mayor Mark Mitchell said the city would need to ensure the Fbikes and scooters don’t clutter up sidewalks or become littered through neighborhoods. Still, he likes the concept.

“It’s exciting that new transit solutions want to be in Tempe,” Mitchell said.

How does it work?

The scooters have a top speed of 15 mph and last about 15 miles per charge, according to the company.

The scooter would cost about $10 per hour to rent. The costs is $1 to start each ride and 15 cents per minute.

To rent the scooters, users must download the company’s app and upload a copy of their driver’s license to prove they are over 18-years-old.

Riders also must consent to a safety agreement and view an in-app tutorial before riding off on the scooters.

Unlike their bike counterparts, Bird employees collect the scooters each night at 8 p.m. for storage, charging and repairs. A company spokesperson would not say how many were in operation, but the app showed at least 100 in Tempe on Friday.

The company offers free helmets to any rider who request one. Company officials say they have given out more than 22,000 helmets since they started doing so in January. The helmets are shipped to riders’ homes.

“It’s going to be a tornado,” Tempe Councilman Kolby Granville said about the scooters’ popularity. “They’re going to be everywhere and are not going to go away.”

Granville said instead of regulations, Tempe may explore contracts with the companies.

“It’s a really dynamic area,” Granville said, adding that contracts would allow more flexibility as the city examines possible code changes.

Tempe Councilman Randy Keating, who arrived to a city meeting about bike-share programs on a shared bike this week, said he welcomes another transportation option.

He said he looks forward to working with Bird to make sure “their rollout is reasonable and well-received.”

Beijing-based bike-sharing company Ofo, which already has bikes in Tempe, may soon introduce electric scooters there too. Ofo spokesman Eric Smith said the company hopes to bring scooters and electric bikes to the U.S. by summer.

Smith said Ofo would seek council’s approval before rolling scooters out in Tempe.