OAKLAND, CA – Monday, The Oakland City Council passed the second reading of the Ordinance to establish regulations and permits for dockless scooter sharing programs, co-authored by Councilmembers Kaplan, Gallo, and Department of Transportation Staff.
Kaplan says, “This Ordinance will provide responsible guidelines for scooter companies as they do business in Oakland.”
Councilmember Kaplan also provided the Council with additional suggestions to better improve implementation of scooter regulations in Oakland, here.
Dockless scooters are being made available by being placed in public locations, and can be a benefit to the community and help with health and mobility if done correctly. However, if done incorrectly, these scooters can have negative impacts by blocking wheelchairs and pedestrians, cluttering sidewalks, and becoming blight.
“The requirements deal with a range of problems and potential problems that have occurred – including prohibiting threatening noises, requiring liability insurance, and where they can be deployed,” says Kaplan.
The ordinance also requires local maintenance teams, specific allowed locations for dockless scooters, and discounted membership plan for those who are low-income. In addition, the ordinance will require dockless scooters distributed equitably throughout Oakland. No less than 50% of operator scooters shall be deployed in Oakland’s Communities of Concern.
“To make sure that we can have good mobility options for everyone in our community, it is important that scooter share systems be properly regulated, have affordable rates, provide local jobs and reliable local maintenance teams, and benefit the public. Depending how they are handled, scooter share systems could be a benefit or have negative impacts on our community – so I am thrilled Oakland voted to approve responsible regulations,” says Kaplan.