What would it take for electric scooter rentals to expand to Tri-Cities?
If electric scooter ride share companies want to launch a trial in the Tri-Cities, they’ll first have to convince city officials it can be done safely and with minimal littering.
A pair of “micro-mobility” companies — Lime and Bird — have been in talks with Visit Tri-Cities to gauge interest in regional trial runs that would last about three months. Interest in the programs fizzled in 2019, but now some city leaders are taking another look at it.
Already working to revitalize its downtown area, the city of Pasco and its city council members discussed pros, cons and the many questions they had about E-scooters at a recent meeting.
Program demand, theft, awry parking, sidewalk and street infrastructure, accident liability and suitable boundaries of operation were raised as concerns by council members.
And while there’s plenty of concerns, there’s also still plenty of interest.
“I’m not opposed to having some type of trial on the waterfront, or maybe just revisit this when we have a more developed downtown area,” said Pasco Mayor Blanche Barajas.
“It just brings up the questions (of) location, maintenance, cost more than anything, and the implementation of regulations,” she added.
Scooter share programs are operated through privately-owned “micromobility” companies that offer their services through smart phone applications.
These companies generally work closely with cities to bring their products to their residents, and programs have been rolled out in areas including Spokane and Seattle.
Zach Ratkai, Pasco’s administrative and community service director, said at the meeting that their Park and Recreation Advisory board “came away with more questions than answers” after they discussed the topic last month. City code will need to be amended in order for these micromobility companies to properly regulate these programs.
Michael Novakovich, president and CEO of Visit Tri-Cities, said E-scooters could serve as a popular link between city shopping centers and as a leisure opportunity for both locals and tourists.
But the three big cities will need to be united on a decision.
“I think the only way it works is if we bring along all three cities,” he said. “It’s an exciting proposition. A lot of things would need to be worked out among the cities.”
As staff and council members look at their existing code, it may be many months until scooters hit the streets.
Rekindled interest
Discussions began in earnest prior to COVID-19 about bringing E-scooter share programs to the area. Kennewick was weighing a trial request for spring 2020 with Lime, the Fremont, Calif.-based company known for its electric bikes, but the pandemic got in the way.
Kennewick city staff has since been busy looking at its city code, though no discussion has come before the city council or parks commission, said city public relations and customer service manager Evelyn Lusignan.
“We don’t have anything fully defined yet,” she said.
Staff have been been looking at city codes on speed limits, the types of transportation corridors it would allow rentals on, and the overall safety of these programs. Electric scooter ownership in general has risen in recent years, Lusignan said, so the city is looking at a more holistic approach to regulating the vehicles.
“We have heard that people are out riding them,” she said. “There hasn’t necessarily been a push for code changes, I just don’t think people really know what the codes are.”
Kennewick hopes to have some code amendments to review with the parks commission in the coming months, she said.
Richland has had no discussions since it opted not to move forward with a trial a few years ago, said city communications and marketing manager Hollie Logan.
“(There’s) no momentum at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that can’t be something that’s considered in the future,” she said.
Richland council members previously were concerned about safety and scooters piling up and clogging sidewalks
West Richland Mayor Brent Gerry said they’ve been left out of recent E-scooter discussions.
He’s not sure these programs are the right fit at the moment for his city of more than 16,000, but he thinks they have their place in city planning and denser urban areas.
The city is currently planning for the construction of its first major retail center.
“I think there’s an opportunity for this transportation, whether this region is ready for that or not will be best vested by a pilot project. You don’t know until you try it, right?” he said
Challenges and regulations
Under state law, cities are allowed to regulate the operation of motorized foot scooters within their boundaries, including where they may operate, the ability to levy fees and taxes on use, and requiring scooters be parked in a manner compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
E-scooter companies currently operate share programs in Spokane, Tacoma, Redmond, Everett and Seattle.
Relaxed enforcement in Spokane led to some serious safety concerns for disabled pedestrians, who had to navigate around piles of scooters strewn along the sidewalk.
As part of a contract renewal last year, the city instilled a $15 parking violation for users who park awry, but enforcement responsibility lies on the city and it’s unclear how much it will dissuade scooter litterers.
Though none of the Tri-Cities currently have codes on the books regulating share programs, Pasco and Kennewick have regulated the use of electric and combustible motorized scooters.
In both cities, electric motorized scooters are prohibited on sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-purpose trails, but are allowed on roadways with speed limits of 25 mph or slower and on shoulders.
Helmets are required in both cities, and riders must obey the rules of the road.
Kennewick riders must be at least 16, and penalties for violating the city’s motorized scooter code can tally upward of $250 per offense.
In Pasco, riders must be at least 13. Fines start at $150, though vary depending on number of prior offenses and the age of the offender.
This story was originally published April 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
