Shared Mobility Pilot Program Set to Launch
September 10, 2018 8:26 AM
by
This article was originally published in the September edition of Seascape.
Santa Monica has long been the home of innovations in transportation. Santa Monicabased Douglas Aircraft were the first to fly around the world in 1924. Modern skateboarding was developed in the Ocean Park neighborhood, aka Dogtown, in the 1970s. LA County’s first bike share system, Breeze Bike Share, launched here in 2015. With the introduction of shared electric scooters just one year ago, Santa Monica is again an epicenter of change.
The City is launching a pilot program next week, Sept 17, for dockless shared mobility devices such as electric scooters and electric bicycles. Prior to the pilot program, operators could apply for a vending permit and operate with few conditions. The pilot program replaces the permitting system and enables more robust testing of ways to protect public safety on City streets and sidewalks.
Approved by the City Council in June 2018, the Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program seeks to:
- Ensure safety and public access by reducing sidewalk, pathway and ADA blockages.
- Educate users about proper rules and riding etiquette.
- Increase options for residents, employees and visitors to get around without a vehicle in order to manage congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Build effective systems to manage negative behaviors and increase positive benefits.
- Explore partnership methods with private operators to deliver public benefits.
Information learned during the pilot program will inform long-term solutions to expand sustainable transportation options, while protecting safety and access on public streets and sidewalks. City staff from the Departments of Planning & Community Development, Police and Public Works are working together on regular evaluation and tracking during the pilot program period. Throughout the summer 2018 and the duration of the pilot program, SMPD will actively inform users about safe and legal device use, and conduct enforcement operations. The pilot program is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2019, with Council consideration of data and long-term solutions starting mid-year.
Dos & Don'ts of Riding
With the proliferation of new devices, it’s important to follow the rules of the road to keep yourself safe and avoid being cited. To date, the Santa Monica Police Department has issued over 700 electric scooter related citations and this simple guide can help you be a safe and legal rider.
To report a broken device please use the information on the device to contact the company directly. To report any device that is a safety hazard, please notify City staff at 424.744.0825. For more information about the program, visit smgov.net/SharedMobility, and please let us know your thoughts by submitting a comment at smgov.net/ santamonicaworks (select Streets & Mobility, then E-Scooters and Shared Mobility Devices).
For the latest updates on the shared mobility pilot program, visit santamonica.gov/news.