New Spin Hub stations help keep Phoenix e-scooters organized, charged

PHOENIX – Phoenix’s only remaining electric scooter vendor debuted new stations Friday designed to unclutter sidewalks and keep the devices charged.

Spin opened two of the modules, called Spin Hubs, at First and Taylor streets and at Fifth and Monroe streets.

The locations were selected because a high number of trips ended in those areas, according to the company, which has plans to add eight more in the next month.

“As the only company in the U.S. that is investing in scooter infrastructure, we knew this was an opportunity for Spin to support Phoenix’s goal to improve access to new mobility options while mitigating clutter,” Tim Alborg, Spin director of government partnerships, said in a press release.

Phoenix started a six-month downtown e-scooter pilot program in September 2019 with three vendors, but Lime and Bird pulled out soon after it launched. On Wednesday, the City Council extended the pilot another six months.

Spin, meanwhile, has remained committed to the area. The micromobility unit of the Ford Motor Company upped its Phoenix presence to 900 scooters by adding 600 in January.

And now there’s a better way to keep the rentable devices from cluttering up sidewalks in some of the city’s 400 or so designated e-scooter parking areas.

The stations provide riders with a way to neatly line up the parked scooters and plug them in to keep them charged for the next user.

“By leveraging technology, we crafted e-scooter requirements that minimize sidewalk clutter and accessibility issues – the biggest concerns of our residents,” Kini Knudson, Phoenix’s Street Transportation Department director, said in the release.

“We are excited to partner with Spin to add Spin Hubs as another forward-thinking solution.”

Spin also operates e-scooters in Tempe and Scottsdale.

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