Operators of a mobility program will offer 2000 electric bikes and scooters as a ‘convenient alternative to cars’
By Jack Simon, Observer Staff Writer
Santa Monica this week selected Lyft, Spin and Veo to participate in its second Shared Mobility Pilot Program, slated to begin on July 1.
The 21-month pilot program, approved by City Council in March, will feature 2000 electric bikes and scooters. It was designed to promote the health and wellbeing of Santa Monica residents and will include new technologies that can improve public safety and different device types to meet the needs of users, said city officials.
Francie Stefan, Santa Monica’s Chief Mobility Officer, said the three selected mobility operators – Spin, Veo, and Lyft – bring “a wide range of experience and device types that will allow the city to conduct a comprehensive and informative second pilot program.”
Four device types will be offered by the three operators, including a three-wheeled e-scooter and a smaller class 2 e-bike, expanding the device portfolio to attract users with different needs and preferences, Stefan said. Veo will feature 200 e-scooters and 500 e-bikes while Spin will offer 700 e-scooters. Lyft is planning to operate 600 e-bikes.
The initial fleet size of 2,000 will change based on utilization but it can never exceed 3,250 total devices based on the Administrative Regulations, said the city in a press release.
“We’ve always taken a flexible approach to shared mobility given how quickly the industry and community needs shift,” said Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “What has not changed is the value these devices bring in offering residents and visitors a convenient, accessible alternative to cars that can reduce vehicle congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Santa Monica is committed to safe, sustainable, and affordable transportation, and these values will guide the second pilot and future contracting process.”
The second pilot program will run from July 1 through March 30, 2023, as part of Santa Monica’s commitment to being a multi-modal city, officials said.
Widely recognized as the birthplace of shared mobility, Santa Monica now has 175 drop hub stations citywide for convenient pickup and drop off of mobility devices, officials said. Its current Shared Mobility Pilot Program has generated more than 4.5 million trips since its launch in 2018.
For more information, visit smgov.net/sharedmobility.
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