According to a City of 琉璃神社 councillor, the newly implemented e-scooter rideshare programs, including OGO Scooters, Bunny Scooters and Zip, are impeding on the enjoyment of pedestrians in downtown 琉璃神社.

Coun. Brad Sieben said the scooters, though billed as a method of transportation, have become more recreation-based and are dangerous to pedestrians and users alike.

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In an Aug. 26 morning meeting, Sieben raised concerns to his fellow councillors about how the scooters are being used, the safety of pedestrians and the lack of helmet usage.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not unanimous, I have seen people using it as a mode of transportation,鈥� said Sieben.

鈥淏ut more of what I鈥檝e seen is (the scooters) being used as a novelty-type rental, especially along the promenade in City Park and Stuart Park. To be honest, I鈥檝e found it to be intrusive to people鈥檚 enjoyment of that promenade.鈥�

Sieben said while the fun of the scooters isn鈥檛 a bad thing, there are better ways to do it. He cited Dropbike, the bike-share program that nixed its deal with the City of 琉璃神社 after less than a year, as a good example of balance between recreation and transportation.

鈥�(Dropbike) was actually being used to get from point A to point B and for fun and recreation. This is more recreation; less of a viable transportation option that I鈥檓 seeing,鈥� he said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 been an absolute void without bike share this summer and it鈥檚 been a shame to not have what was so successful last year. Certainly, the e-scooters, in my opinion, have not replaced or enhanced that. I wish it wasn鈥檛 an either this or that situation but if I had my choice I鈥檇 take bike share, for sure.鈥�

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Sieben also lauded bike share programs as a good way to get some exercise, something which he said is lacking in the e-scooter programs.

Sieben said several council members share his sentiment but he is keen to have city staff write a report on how the programs have been used throughout the city for a more in-depth look from council.

OGO Scooters co-owner, Chris Szydlowski said he is open for conversations with the city regarding the scooters.

鈥淲e鈥檙e always trying to find ways to improve,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t is a pretty new transportation option for people, so there鈥檚 a certain amount of excitement. There鈥檚 room to improve where we can ride and as the laws develop, to make it safer. Long term, I really think people are looking at e-scooters and other electric devices as micro-mobility to reduce the biggest danger in our city, which is cars, trucks and congestion.鈥�

In response to the lack of helmets, Szydlowski said initially they had helmets for every scooter but after a short period of time, they were all missing.

鈥淎nother challenge with the helmets is hygiene,鈥� he said, adding that people don鈥檛 want to wear helmets full of somebody else鈥檚 sweat.

鈥淲e鈥檙e exploring all avenues, including partnerships, to have helmets available. We also will have helmets available through our waterfront team that is out there helping customers on an ongoing basis.鈥�

Founder of Zip Scooters, Luke Mydlarz, shared a similar sentiment.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 agree with (Sieben),鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can look at the world market and see that these scooters are helping lots of things: from reducing cars on roads to reducing emissions and pollution in the atmosphere 鈥� especially in congested areas.鈥�

Mydlarz said e-scooters are projected to be a $25 billion industry by 2025 and he doesn鈥檛 see it at all as a novelty.

He cited a 2018 , which found 71 per cent of Portlanders most frequently used e-scooters to get to a destination. The report also said six per cent of users reported getting rid of a car because of e-scooters and another 16 per cent considered it.

鈥淏efore councillors make these kinds of comments, they should probably do some research or feel free reach out to operators such as myself,鈥� he said.

Bunny Scooters could not be reached for comment.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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