Milwaukee could see dockless scooters make a return in 2021.
The city’s Department of Public Works determining the 2019 pilot study was a success in many ways, and they want city leaders to allow them to conduct a new pilot program that would start in the spring.
In a report on the 2019 program, the city saw 350,130 rides over the 131 days it was allow to operate. There was an average of 2,762 rides per day, with scooters having 3.6 rides per day.
The busiest month for the program was August with 134,142, followed by September with 112,684.
The city was split up into three sections, downtown, north and south, as scooter operators were required to split up their fleet to provide availability to all parts of Milwaukee. Over 92-percent of all trips in 2019 took place in the downtown area, just over four-percent were in the city’s south side, and 3.5-percent in the city’s north side.
One issue that came up numerous times during 2019 was use of scooters on the sidewalk, which is against city ordinances. Two studies were done at 19 intersections in the downtown area to see how people were using them. They found over 82-percent of people were using them on the street, with street use improving from the first to second study.
A public survey was also conducted at the end of 2019 to gauge the program, which was completed by over 76-hundred people. It found over 57-percent of people would support making dockless scooters permanent in Milwaukee, 15-percent would support them but with changes, and 28-percent wanting them prohibited.
If a new pilot program is set up, DPW would like to see the following changes made:
1) Reconfigure zones to encourage usage in other areas of the City
2) Increase allowable fleet size to encourage usage in other parts of the City
3) Revise fee structure to include a reduced per scooter fee and a new per trip fee
4) Require operators to conduct regular safety and educational events to promote safe riding and proper parking
5) Clarify parking requirements and eliminate the 2-hour grace period that allows operators to remedy parking violations once notified
6) Add scooter parking violations to the City’s “Click 4 Action” online and app-based service request portal
7) Work with operators to install and promote painted parking corrals throughout high demand areas
8) Require operators to include a plan for incorporating scooters that accommodate people of varying abilities
9) Require operators to maintain a severe weather policy
10) Specify the font size and location of information required on scooters
11) Establish a 24-hour idle time policy for scooters so scooters cannot remain unused in the same place for more than one day
12) Enter into an agreement with a third party data manager prior to beginning the 2021 pilot study