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Public electric scooters and bikes could soon come to Jacksonville

Jacksonville FL — You may soon have the option to rent an e-scooter or e-bike in downtown Jacksonville.

District 5 Councilwoman Leanna Cumber recently introduced a bill to bring e-mobility to our streets.

If passed, Ordinance 2020-26 would create the framework for a one-year pilot program.

“It will allow for up to four companies to get permits to rent out their electric scooters or electric bicycles in the downtown area for a year,” Cumber said.

In June 2019 Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 453 into law making electric-powered scooters legal across the state. Florida cities including Miami, Tampa and Orlando, have already brought in e-mobility options.

“We’re the last major city in Florida to create a pilot program,” Cumber said.

Cumber told Action News Jax pilot programs allow cities to regulate operating companies like Uber, Bird and Lime.

The proposed legislation in Jacksonville regulates safety standards, visibility, speed, advertising and signage on corrals storing the devices, and where the scooters and bikes can operate within the city.

Under the bill’s current language, the devices would be available in a geofenced location downtown.

“During this pilot program, dockless mobility units are restricted to the Dockless Mobility Zone (DMZ),” the bill states. “Which is approximately defined as that area from I-95 east to Broad Street between Bay Street and Water Street and also bordered by Broad Street and the Acosta Bridge on the west, Beaver Street on the north, Gator Bowl Boulevard on the east and the Northbank Riverwalk on the south …”

But the devices don’t come without concerns.

The City of Miami removed e-bikes ahead of Hurricane Dorian, fearing they may become projectiles. The proposed bill addresses what companies looking to operate in Jacksonville must be prepared to do in the event of a major storm.

“Operators must detail a plan to relocate the Dockless mobility units to a safe, indoor facility within twenty-four (24) hours in the result of a declared tropical weather event,” the bill states.

Many across the country have also raised concerns about the scooters and bikes being littered across cities.

“There will be corrals set up throughout the geofenced area where the vehicles would be able to operate, and those corrals would be able to house up to five scooters at a time, and five bikes,” Cumber said.

Those Action News Jax reporter Ryan Nelson spoke to in the downtown area said the measure could be a positive in the city.

“I think anything that we can do to lower our carbon footprint, to lower our reliance on fossil fuels in a great thing,” Jacksonville musician ‘The Balance King.’ said.

The bill underwent its first reading on Tuesday. Cumber said it’s moving through a six-week process in the council.

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