Micromobility

State officials working to make amends for botched rollouts of a long-delayed electric-bike program have introduced new vendors to manage the next application period.

Commissioners in the state’s most populous county are considering regulating electric bicycles and scooters, in a bid to crack down on “reckless behavior.” Another goal of the measure is defining the vehicles.

The city said it has impounded 38 electric scooters parked on sidewalks, and rental companies may face fees. Vendors questioned the timing but said they are working with officials and will follow the rules.

Municipalities in California, Colorado and Washington are working toward a deeper understanding of what goes on at their curbs, to solve persistent problems related to parking, congestion and deliveries.

The demands of parcels coming and going, and other stressors at the curb, are prompting cities to design new approaches to managing these spaces. Often, they are turning to data and technology for support.

A pilot project to introduce a shared electric scooter program in Eugene, Ore., eased the devices into the community, with considerable public outreach to address concerns around parking and cluttered sidewalks.

A project to explore use of the small, electric vehicles could be paused by a recent federal memo. Its funding source is a grant from the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation.

The City Council is considering a proposed policy on electric bicycles that would classify them as a “non-motorized use” permissible on trails open to other bikes. Civic leaders, however, say residents should get to vote.

The U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has awarded funding to 25 projects, to advance the use of electrified urban transportation. The money is intended to expand at-home charging and electrified fleets.

The city’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board has approved a policy to expand electric bike access on city trails, but an official City Council decision won’t come until February.

Members of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Advisory Board voted 4-3 for code language defining three classes of electric bicycles as “non-motorized use.” The City Council could hear the proposal next month.

Veo, a shared, electric scooter and bicycle provider in numerous cities around the nation, is using technology from Captur to ensure its devices are parked properly. The process is customized according to local regulations.

Transportation systems around the country will be fare-free on Election Day, removing a potential barrier to voting. One company has also done a vehicle wrap to encourage the more tech-savvy to register.

The city has made more than 50 electric bicycles and scooters available for residents to rent, on a trial basis. The program, which runs through December 2025, will test whether the initiative makes sense long term.

At the midpoint of smart curb projects, city transportation leaders across the country are reflecting on the broader impacts this work can have — and how they might unlock progress in the future.

A new measure before the Honolulu City Council would place more regulations on e-bikes in Oahu. A council resolution urges the state Legislature to “update and clarify” laws related to “electric bicycles and electric dirt bike motorcycles.”

Cities around the nation are taking on projects to gather and analyze vast amounts of digital data points related to curb usage. This can enable new forms of delivery and dynamic parking prices.

Two recent cycling deaths in the western part of the state have prompted police to focus on educating riders, drivers and pedestrians on laws governing electric bicycles. Advocates say safety precautions are everyone’s responsibility.