Scooter update finds fewer riders and less clutter

Transportation and Public Works has a six-month update on changes to the Micromobility Program, which regulates scooter rentals in the city, reporting positive results stemming from changes that were implemented in May 2024.

A cap was set on new micromobility vendor licenses, setting a limit of two vendors. The two current licensed operators are not allowed increases to device permits. Richard Mendoza, director of Transportation and Public Works, stated in a memorandum that this regulation “resulted in a more streamlined workload for City staff and made coordination with vendors more efficient.”

“Special event operations have also benefited. For shared micromobility operations to run smoothly during Austin’s larger events, the vendors typically request corralling space. The change to two vendors was especially apparent during this year’s ACL Festival, as less space was required to handle similar volume. Thus far, the cap has had a positive impact on staff and a negligible impact on ridership. This policy will be reviewed again prior to the one-year mark in May 2025,” Mendoza wrote.

The number of permitted e-scooters was reduced from 8,700 to 6,700 citywide. Overall ridership saw an approximate 9 percent decrease during Q2 and Q3 for 2023 and 2024.

Discontinuing dockless e-bike permits will be up for discussion during the next permitting cycle. Theft and vandalism have negatively affected operating costs for e-bike companies. However, “Austin’s Metrobike system plans to expand e-bike stations and units starting in early 2025,” Mendoza wrote. “This will help offset the loss of dockless e-bikes from private vendors and further mitigate clutter.”

The number of devices allowed to operate in the Downtown Austin Project Coordination Zone was reduced from 4,500 to 2,250. This cap has “led to a larger reduction in overall trips (14%) than the citywide fleet reduction, but also has led to a greater increase in trips per device (1.9 to 2.4). The new fleet cap has had minimal impact on the individual vendors while leading to less clutter on downtown sidewalks and increasing trips per device,” Mendoza wrote.

Additionally, “The impact on street clutter is measured by the number of service requests submitted by citizens and TPW Parking Enforcement staff through 311 and internal request tracking. Early results show a decrease in service request volume, indicating this approach has been successful,” he wrote.

Speed limits in the main downtown entertainment districts were reduced from 15 mph to 10 mph during the hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“Data is still being collected on the Rainey Street and E. 6th Street slow zones,” Mendoza wrote. “One of the major challenges of slow zones is ensuring scooter use does not become more dangerous with the introduction of sudden slowdowns for riders. GPS technology is inadequate to limit slow zones to pedestrian-heavy areas, and slowing devices in active roadways with bicycles and motor vehicles could prove dangerous.”

Parking for micromobility devices was installed on Congress Avenue. Device companies are responsible for rebalancing these parking areas regularly. In addition, city staff has been working with scooter companies to use “force park technology” that limits where riders can park.

Transportation and Public Works plan to give an update to the Mobility Committee in April 2025 and another memorandum update in May 2025.

Photo by Luis Tamayo made available through a Creative Commons license.

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