DEPARTMENT: Center City Development and Operations
DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Jacks
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
A briefing on the proposed dockless vehicle ordinance.
SUMMARY:
This is a briefing on the proposed dockless vehicle ordinance which will regulate dockless bicycles, electric assisted dockless bicycles, and dockless scooters.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Center City Development and Operations is proposing a pilot program with a comprehensive set of regulations and a permitting process for the emerging dockless vehicle industry. CCDO's proposed regulations will clarify rules for both dockless vehicle operators and riders. These regulations will cover where vehicles can be ridden, how they should be parked, establish a minimum age for riders, and require a local fleet manager.
Dockless vehicles are a new transportation mode that includes GPS enabled bicycles, electric assisted bicycles, or electric scooters. They are introduced by private companies who place the vehicles in the city's right of way so they can be used by subscribers through a phone application. CCDO initially provided a high level briefing on dockless vehicles at the January Transportation Council Committee meeting. The briefing provided an overview of the emerging industry, which focused primarily on dockless bicycles as they had been introduced in Dallas, Seattle, and elsewhere. Since January, dockless scooters have overtaken dockless bikes as most common type of dockless vehicle in the quickly growing industry.
Following the January Transportation Committee meeting, CCDO researched the approaches other cities are using to effectively regulate this new industry. The goal is to create a clear set of rules for riders and vendors that will mitigate issues that have been seen throughout the country while simultaneously working with operators to ensure the regulatory framework is not overly onerous. Over the past six months, CCDO has regularly communicated with o...
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