Updated regulations may help more companies safely deploy electric scooters and bikes in Sacramento.
City staff on Tuesday brought forward updated regulations on shared rideables (scooters and bike share) that was heard by the City’s Law and Legislation Committee.
“The shared-rideables landscape continues to evolve and staff is learning lessons from the current regional bicycle share program,” said Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Active Transportation Specialist.
City staff interviewed peer cities, local stakeholders and businesses to better understand the issues surrounding shared rideables, Donlon Wyant said. This information will help create a “regulatory framework that would not only help achieve the City’s goals for encouraging transportation, but also ensure public health and safety,” she said.
Proposed regulations include the following:
- As part of the overall program, companies will pay the City a fee to cover the cost of purchasing and installing racks for parking shared-rideables.
- Companies must deploy 20 percent of their fleet in disadvantaged communities.
- City can give companies a $15 citation for any shared rideable obstructing the pedestrian path of travel.
The proposed regulations are based on the City’s experience with JUMP, input from stakeholders and lessons learned from other cities.
City Council is expected to make the final decision on the proposed regulations in mid-March. The City expects other e-scooter companies to complete the permitting process and begin operations later this spring.
JUMP, the first electric bike share company operating in the City, will launch Sacramento’s first electric scooter service beginning Friday, Feb. 8. Jump is allowed to bring scooters to Sacramento under its existing permit for electric bikes.