Prior this afternoon’s Metro Council meeting’s cancelation due to Hurricane Zeta, the council was set to consider two ordinances that would create a framework for scooter rental companies to set up shop in Baton Rouge city limits. One ordinance allows for leasing within city limits and the other outlines how the scooters should be operated.
If passed, the rules would allow for up to two companies to receive licenses to operate, which would expire after three years. Initially, a licensed company could manage up to 100 scooters, with the option to expand to 250 after 90 days. The scooter rental operators would be required to share usage data with city-parish officials every month and post real-time data on device locations. The companies would also pay an application fee, annual per-device fee and performance bond for each device.
The scooters could not be operated on sidewalks or parked in a way that obstructs pedestrians. Also, they would have to be rebalanced daily by the managing companies and picked up within two hours of a complaint being filed. Violations could lead to a permit suspension.
City-parish officials began to consider crafting regulations after scooter-sharing company Bird expanded into Louisiana in November 2018, launching its first fleet in Lafayette. At the time of its launch, company representatives told Daily Report they’d like to bring their scooters to Baton Rouge but had no expansion plans to announce. Bird has since pulled out of the Louisiana market.
Baton Rouge bike-share partner Gotcha has also previously expressed its interest in launching its own scooter sharing program in the city.
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber this morning announced its support of the two ordinances, saying that embracing transportation alternatives such as scooters helps Baton Rouge compete with similar-sized cities.
“Quality of urban life improvements in mobility and recreation will help us attract and retain talented individuals to our community,” said Rex Cabaniss, partner at WHLC Architecture and chair of BRAC’s Quality of Place Committee, in the announcement..
A date has yet to be released for the rescheduled Metro Council meeting, however, the council will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. on Friday to consider the levy and adoption of millages and the roll forward of public safety millages. The meeting will be in the third-floor council chambers at 222 Saint Louis Street. Read the full agenda.
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