The new electric scooter service could pose a problem for Denver, with city officials threatening to remove them if they cause congestion on sidewalks.
Lime, the company that brought the dockless bike-sharing service to Aurora, has launched its new electric scooter service in Denver. Nearly 500 electric scooters, called Lime S scooters, were deployed in the city on Friday, May 25. And while the scooters could provide a new, fun way of traveling, they're already starting to cause some issues for city officials, who are threatening to get rid of them if they are "blocking sidewalks and other public spaces." One of the bigger reasons is that the service has been suspended in several U.S. cities, including Honolulu, for being in violation of state and city laws for not registering the scooters as mopeds. And on June 4, the service will be completely removed from San Francisco after additional permits were required for the scooters. Denver Public Works spokesman Nancy Khun told The Denver Post, "While Denver Public Works is supportive of new alternative transportation options, we feel these technologies should be deployed in a way that works with the city's goals of increasing pedestrian safety and mobility." Add to the fact that Denver Public Works was not even aware of Lime launching the service until a few days prior and they're "concerned about the use, placement, and quantity of these scooters operating on Denver's sidewalks, particularly in areas of high pedestrian activity." [embed]https://twitter.com/DenPublicWorks/status/1000124993626259456[/embed] But Lime argues that they have a plan to mitigate sidewalk congestion. Sam Sadle, Lime Company spokesman, told FOX31, "We want to make sure everybody who uses a Lime S scooter knows where to park it, how to park it so there is an open right of way down the sidewalk."
The company also said that the service will help remove more cars off the streets of Denver. "By taking cars off the roads and replacing them with scooters, we believe we can alleviate traffic congestion, help Denver reach its Vision Zero goals, improve urban mobility, and transform the way people get around the city."
The streets department of Denver Public Works is in the process of creating a permit for scooter-share, Kuhn said.
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Courtesy of Lime[/caption]
Using your smartphone, it only costs $1 to unlock a scooter and then 15 cents a minute to ride. The scooters can reach up to 15 mph. Riders must be 18 years old or older. Riders are also not supposed to ride on the sidewalks, but rather the bike lanes where available. When you're done, the scooters should be parked at bike racks and along the curbside without blocking sidewalks or other pedestrian passageways, according to Lime.
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With the electric scooter service, Denver joins Washington, D.C., San Jose, San Diego, Miami, and Charlotte.
What do YOU think? Will this new scooter service be successful in Denver? Or are there still a few hiccups along the way that'll prevent that? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and let's get the conversation started.