E-scooter pilot program coming to downtown Phoenix

PHOENIX — Downtown Phoenix is the newest area in the Valley that will explore the use of electronic scooters.

Michael Cano, a Phoenix traffic engineer, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday that the city will implement a six-month pilot program to determine if the scooters are a viable form of transportation for the area.

“We want to know if they are sustainable as a transportation and micromobility option,” Cano said.

The city plans to issue permits for 300 e-scooters each for three companies — Lime, Bird and Spin.

Launch date was set for Sept. 16.

Cano said riders will have to pick up the scooters at designated locations — there will be about 400 locations — and operate them within certain boundary areas.

The scooters will be available as far south as Buckeye Road, north to McDowell Road and between Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street.

Riders won’t be able to end a session unless they are in a designated location, according to Cano.

E-scooters have infiltrated and caused issues across the Valley for the better part of the past year.

The scooters were banned at Arizona State University in Tempe, cited as a potential danger.

In February, Lime announced it was pulling its scooters out of Tempe, pointing to new regulations and fees.

Scottsdale put specific rules in place for riders.

In the West Valley, Peoria and Glendale pulled the plug on the scooters in the winter.

“We’ll go to the City Council at the three-month and six-month mark with data such as number of rides and incidents to evaluate program’s success,” Patton said.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Nailea Leon contributed to this report.

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