While Bird is the most complained about e-scooter company, Lyft and Jump see an increase in devices.
By Keldine Hull
Residents and visitors in Santa Monica may see a change in the city’s dockless device presence as changes to local regulations regarding fleet size adjustment caps will require Bird to pull 250 scooters out of Santa Monica while allowing Lyft and Jump an additional 500 and 250 scooters respectively. Santa Monica will see an overall increase of 500 dockless devices on its sidewalks and streets, bringing its total to 3,000.
According to City of Santa Monica staff, Bird has received more complaints than any other dockless device operator allowed to operate in Santa Monica as part of the City’s Shared Mobility Pilot Program. The pilot program was designed to test the deployment and use of shared mobility services with the City of Santa Monica.
Goals include diversifying mobility options for anyone in Santa Monica, protecting public health and safety, as well as creating an enforceable framework for managing mobility services. Other objectives include reducing sidewalk, pathway, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) blockage, and ensuring private operators respond to pervasive issues and service complaints.
When the program launched in 2017, Bird and Lime were permitted 750 scooters while Lyft and Jump were allowed 500 bikes and 250 scooters.
In November 2018 and February and March 2019, the City received requests from both Lyft and Jump to increase their e-scooter and e-bike fleets.
The request was initially denied but reassessed afterwards, allowing Lyft and Jump a fleet increase per the Administrative Regulations.
The City accepted public comment regarding the new regulation until the close of business July 17.
