CINCINNATI – Citing safety concerns and resident complaints, the City of Cincinnati has limited the use of commercial e-scooters to business hours, at least temporarily.
What You Need To Know
- Cincinnati has placed a new, earlier curfew on e-scooters because of safety complaints
- Bird and Lime vehicles will remain locked from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., at least temporarily
- Complaints include a lack of following traffic laws, violation of curfew, underage riding and use of e-scooters in criminal activity
- Bird and Lime are working with the city to address the situation, the city said
As of Friday, scooters operated by Bird and Lame will lock from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. each day. The decision came about as the result of a meeting last week between e-scooter operators and representatives of several city departments, including transportation of engineering, law and the Cincinnati Police Department.
Specific safety complaints include underage riding, riding on the sidewalk, not following traffic laws, riding after the 11 p.m. curfew, parking of scooters in the middle of the sidewalk and riding in unauthorized areas, like parking garages and parks. They also cited the use of e-scooters in “criminal activities.”
The city regulates the use of commercial e-scooters.
A city spokesperson called the discussion between the administration and the e-scooter companies “productive.” Bird and Lime each received “action items to address and resolve the issues discussed.”
The time changes went into effect Friday, per the city. Bird and Lime programmed the updated hours into the scooters so they’ll not work outside those hours.
If a rider is using an e-scooter near the curfew, the vehicle should “slowly and safely” come to a stop at 6 p.m., per the city. E-scooters will resume operation at 6:00 a.m.
E-scooters arrived in Cincinnati in the summer of 2018. City leadership grappled with how to regulate the popular but potentially dangerous motorized vehicles since that time. Cincinnati set up a pilot program to regulate use of the devices, including things such as allowable speed, off-limit locations and hours of operation. Those rules have adapted and changed along with technology.
It’s not yet clear how long the new rules will be in effect. The City’s statement said it will remain in effect for the “near future” while both sides work toward a “resolution to all the issues discussed.”
The city is inviting residents to provide feedback on e-scooter use in Cincinnati. The form is available online: www.cincinnati-oh.gov/dote/e-scooter-feedback/