Flagstaff City Council is rethinking its micromobility sharing program that brings more e-scooters and bike sharing to cities. While some councillors discussed the potential for projects to reduce traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions, others raised concerns about safety and accessibility.
City Council discussed potential micromobility programs during a working session on February 11th.
Flagstaff saw a rise With micromobility options as e-bikes and scooters become increasingly popular both on NAU campuses and across town. Jenny Neeman, director of the Climate Action Section at Flagstaff, held the meeting by acknowledging this.
“The e-bikes and scooters are already in Flagstaff,” Nieman said. “We’re really going to talk about reopening the conversation about whether or not we’ll allow micromobility equities companies to run and reconsider the efforts that ended in 2020.”
Some council members in the City Council work session questioned the proposed micromobility plan for Flagstaff and nurtured a 2018 program called Spin, which has been operating only six months in the city, and Others support the program for citizen transport options, Environmental Benefits, February 11th. Anthony Treviso/The Lumberjack
Flagstaff Previously We investigated micromobility sharing programs in 2019, Gotcha Mobilityissue a Request for Proposal (RFP) and select a vendor. That contract was ultimately cancelled due to Covid-19.
Similar programs gain traction Other cities In recent years, Flagstaff officials have considered how those efforts will align with the city’s transport and climate goals.
City leaders are considering how micromobility programs can support wider regional transport, particularly by improving connectivity to areas such as Now and downtown Flagstaff.
Former city’s Flagstaff Climate Action Section Director Jenny Neeman explained the benefits e-bikes and e-souters can bring to Flagstaff at a regular city council meeting held at Flagstaff City Hall on February 11. Masu. Transportation use. Anthony Treviso/The Lumberjack
Kim Austin works as a transportation demand manager MetropolitanHe said that programs reduce vehicle congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide an alternative to driving that offers low-cost options for individuals without personal vehicles. .
“The device is also an environmentally enjoyable way to explore towns, encouraging shopping and exploring local businesses that you may be missing out on driving,” Austin said.
a Report The North American Bike Share and Scooter Share Association discovered a micromobility travel sharing in 2023 that offset roughly £81 million in carbon emissions.
Despite these benefits, council members expressed concern about potential shortcomings.
Matthews said third-party operators should handle the liability of the micromobility program and that users must sign the exemption as part of the agreement.
“I see a lot of crazy drivers on those scooters,” Matthews said.
Additionally, e-scooters and bicycles can interfere with sidewalks and pose challenges for individuals with disabilities.
An important part of e-souter and bike management involves assessing the impact on pedestrian routes.
“If members of the community with mobility issues are trying to make it less accessible, I don’t want to bring this in,” Matthews said.
Austin and Matthews discussed dedicating at least half of the time of one city staff member to the program. Managing your program includes monitoring compliance, dealing with complaints, coordinating with vendors and running smoothly.
“Reward systems like ride credits and parking leaderboards may be effective to encourage proper parking,” Austin said. “Geofencing technology helps ensure that devices are activated by only activating when parked in a designated area and preventing interference that interferes with accessibility.”
City’s Flagstaff Climate Action Section Director Jenny Neeman (left) and Metropran Flagstaff Transport Demand Manager Kim Austin (right) pose for photos at a Flagstaff City Council work session held at City Hall on February 11. I’ll take it. E-scoat rentals around Flagstaff city. Anthony Treviso/The Lumberjack
Geofening Technology uses GPS to create virtual boundaries, allowing micromobility companies to remotely control electronic sumoters and e-bikes within designated areas.
If the council proceeds with the plan, Neiman said potential next steps would include community involvement and stakeholder outreach. City staff will work with the NAU, local businesses, neighborhood associations and transport officials to collect input and identify best practices from similar programs.
“We’ll continue these conversations, continue our research, continue our fellow cities, but we want to start talking to our committees, talk to more community members, and talk to town businesses,” Neemann said. said. “We want to prepare recommendations to the council on how best to move forward.”
If approved, the city council will begin a new RFP process to select a vendor, which could begin with a pilot program. Over the next few months, authorities will decide how to build a program to ensure it meets the needs of Flagstaff’s community.
