Littered on sidewalks. Taking up “valuable parking spots.” Safety hazards for riders and drivers. Those were just a few of the concerns Pittsburgh City Council members expressed Wednesday about scooters when considering traffic regulations for the low-speed electric devices that have been on the city’s streets since mid-summer.
Members gave near unanimous support to a proposed ordinance that would regulate speed and other road rules for the ubiquitous bright orange-and-black Spin scooters on which users have clocked 156,000 trips and over 228,000 miles since July 9, according to Karina Ricks, director of the city’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.
The ordinance would amend city code to mandate that users are at least 18 years old, travel no faster than 15 mph, ride only on streets with a maximum posted speed of 25 mph, and ride in designated bike and pedestrian lanes when possible — rules that the administration says have been in effect since Mayor Bill Peduto signed an executive order on July 20.
Council members say they’ve received numerous complaints about usage on busy streets and scooters parked illegally.
For nearly an hour, the standing committee peppered Ms. Ricks with questions about where scooters are restricted, worries about potential crashes and access in topographically challenging neighborhoods, and debate over whether riders are using the scooters for recreation rather than commuting. Several referenced a widely seen video of a rider in the Liberty Tunnels.
“I don’t want to be an obstructionist for what is ultimately proving to be a necessary addition to alternative means of mobility, especially for younger people. But I do stress safety as a top priority,” said Councilman Bruce Kraus. “... You cannot ride them through the Liberty Tunnels. You can’t go across the Liberty Bridge with them. And God forbid, I’m getting calls from people in Oakland where people are actually carrying their newborns and riding on scooters. You have to use common sense for God’s sake, please.”
The administration maintains that the scooter pilot program benefits the one in five city residents who do not own cars.
“We really want to promote these other opportunities. There is a deep equity concern that drives us in this. Many [without vehicles] live in places that don’t have the level of transit frequency that this city once enjoyed,” Ms. Ricks said. “... The trip through the Liberty Tunnel was distressing for the safety considerations, but it’s also distressing to think about the level of desperation that somebody must have in taking such a dangerous trip.”
Ms. Ricks said the device’s electric motors automatically shut down on high-speed or high-traffic areas. She also noted that Spin employees ride around the city in eight company vans multiple times a week to collect illegally parked scooters and to redistribute the devices to the city’s low-income neighborhoods.
All members voted in favor of the traffic regulations for the scooters with the exception of Council President Theresa Kail-Smith who said she wanted to review any agreements between the city and the San Francisco-based scooter company.
Council will take a final vote Tuesday.
Ashley Murray: amurray@post-gazette.com
First Published: September 15, 2021, 6:57 p.m.
