Leesburg Prepares for Scooter, Bike, Skateboard Sharing Services
More transportation options could be coming to Leesburg.
Following a national trend that is seeing many urban localities offer bikes, scooters, even skateboards, rentals, the Town Council Tuesday night initiated a Town Code amendment that could allow the same offering to Leesburg residents and visitors.
It’s a regular sight nowadays to see bikes and scooters gathered alongside city streets, with city dwellers and visitors using a cell phone app to pay to rent and unlock them for use. Recently, Charlottesville partnered with a California-based company to offer app-based electric scooters and bikes for rent, and it’s a phenomenon playing out in many Virginia localities.
According to a town staff report, absent any action from the Town Council, these types of vehicles may be offered for hire within Leesburg without restriction beginning Jan. 1, thanks to action by the General Assembly in March. However, the legislation allows the Town Council to pass regulations for such vehicles prior to the Jan. 1 implementation date.
The staff report notes that Virginia Beach is evaluating the use of franchise license agreements, while Charlottesville’s pilot program has a permitting process.
Councilman Marty Martinez introduced the code initiation Tuesday night, and said he was tipped off on preparing for the new law during a recent Virginia Municipal League General Laws Committee meeting.
“I want to make sure the town is prepared regulatorily for those businesses moving west,” he said.
The code initiation passed unanimously. It will come back before the council for a public hearing and final vote.
I hope the Council will not allow any rentals unless from authorized dealers who can store them properly and ensure they are not left on people’s lawns or leaning against people’s businesses. In addition, dealers can ensure people who rent them wear helmets. I always wear a helmet when riding my bicycle. The staff report to the Council was so meager and had such little detail that they should be reprimanded. It states that Virginia Beach is “evaluating a franchise agreement.” Maybe, but this article says they banned scooters from the beach areas.
https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-scooter-ban-approved-0822-20190821-fp4flonsjvh7hfwb2urz5y6ede-story.html
There have been numerous injuries around the country, too.
https://www.pilotonline.com/business/jobs/photogallery_ef02e0b5-f771-543b-ab6d-61166e917227.html
https://www.apnews.com/33f376b91e5945efbcbb2c460b1d0dcc
https://fox2now.com/2019/09/25/creve-coeur-weighs-regulations-for-electric-scooters-in-parks/
I dont know why the Town Staff can’t just do a Google search and give the governing body the details it needs before they act. It’s a bad idea to allow scooters, bikes and skateboards to proliferate around leesburg without proper storage and most of all, headgear for the people who rent them.