Portland Bureau of Transportation Portland’s announced Friday the electric scooter pilot program will extend until the end of 2020.
PBOT said the program extension will provide the city more time to study the impacts of e-scooters on Portland’s transportation system.
“We think that there is potential for shared e-scooters to be one of our solutions in reducing congestion, reducing pollution and lowering our carbon footprint as a community,” said Dylan Rivera, a spokesperson for PBOT.
“E-scooters have the potential to provide a convenient, climate-friendly transportation option for thousands of Portlanders, but safety is my top priority,” Portland transportation commissioner Chloe Eudaly said in a statement.
Saldy, riding on sidewalks and parking scooters irresponsibly were the biggest problems in 2018’s e-scooter pilot program.
PBOT is also working closely with Multnomah County Health Department, emergency rooms and individual health care providers to improve data on e-scooter injuries.
From April 26 to Nov. 30 of this year, Multnomah County Health Department identified 183 visits to emergency departments and urgent care clinics related to e-scooter usage. But, Rivera said, “that’s based on almost 1 million trips ridden from 1 million miles.”
PBOT also announced Friday an expansion of the number of e-scooters permitted to operate in the city.
One of the scooter programs’ companies, Spin, will be allowed to expand its fleet by almost 200 scooters, PBOT said, due to meeting certain program incentives such as having responsive communication with PBOT.
