Title
Shared Mobility Ordinance Revisions
Action
Action:
Approve the Transportation and Planning Committee’s recommendation to amend Chapters 14 and 19 of the City Code regarding shared mobility.
Body
Committee Chair:
Julie Eiselt, Mayor Pro Tem
Staff Resource(s):
Liz Babson, Transportation
Dan Gallagher, Transportation
Explanation
§ Shared mobility options, such as e-scooters and e-bikes, have been implemented nationally and internationally in the last year.
§ The City of Charlotte piloted e-scooters, dockless bikes, and e-bikes over the last year and instituted temporary permit and guideline requirements.
§ There are currently three companies (Bird, Lime, and Spin) with active permits in Charlotte.
§ The proposed ordinance amendments will:
- Define e-scooters and e-bikes (as electric standup scooters and electric assisted bicycles),
- Cap e-scooter speeds at 15 miles per hour,
- Cap e-scooter weight to 50 pounds,
- Prohibit two people from riding a single e-scooter, and
- Prohibit sidewalk riding in a core area of Uptown (bounded by Church Street, Stonewall Street, College Street, and 7th Street).
§ In addition, the City will modify the existing permit and guidelines to provide additional clarification including:
- Implementing a dynamic cap that allows more e-scooters to be added to the system when there are more than three trips per day per e-scooter, and a reduction in the cap when there are less than two trips per day per e-scooter,
- Ensuring a unique identifier on the stem of each e-scooter,
- Reorganizing scooters mid-afternoon,
- Exploring dynamic pricing fees with Bird, Lime, Spin, and a third-party company, and
- Exploring how more e-scooters can be deployed to support first and last mile transit trips.
Committee Discussion
§ The topic of shared mobility (specifically e-scooters) was referred to the Transportation and Planning Committee (Committee).
§ Since late September 2018, the Committee has discussed this item with a focus on safety, state legislative action, ridership, parking, first and last mile access, dynamic caps, dynamic pricing, and the need for additional City ordinance clarification.
§ On December 17, 2018, the Committee (Phipps, Eiselt, Ajmera, Egleston, Winston) recommended draft ordinance components to full City Council for discussion at the Strategy Session on January 7, 2019.
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Proposed Chapter 14 and Chapter 19 Text Amendments
Charlotte Dockless Bike/E-Scooter Permit Requirements