The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is extending its 2017 pilot program for dockless bikes but will require bikeshare companies to fit them with locks to prevent them from tipping over.
DDOT also said it will keep its limit of 400 bicycles or scooters per company, prompting the Lime bikeshare firm to say it’s removing all of its bicycles.
Company spokesman Evan Thies said Thursday that Lime will remove its green electric and pedal bikes from D.C. streets but will continue offering electric scooters.
Lime is making the move because the scooters are more popular, the locking requirement isn’t “in line” with the company’s goals and the city’s 400-vehicle limit is “very, very low” for a city of the District’s size, Mr. Thies said.
DDOT spokesman Terry Owens said in an email that the vehicle limit would be reviewed in December when the city government looks to transform the pilot program into a permanent one. He declined to say why the limit remains in this second extension of the pilot program, which was slated to end in April.
DDOT is not requiring locks for the electric scooters supplied by Lime, or its competitors Spin and Bird.
The District’s other dockless bikeshare firm, JUMP, always required riders to lock its bikes and isn’t affected by the new requirement.
“While a 400-bike per-company limit may have made sense in gauging demand and guiding policy priorities in the context of a pilot, it’s clear that such a limited number is in no way sufficient for a city of 700,000 people over the long term,” a JUMP spokesman said. “Transportation advocates have suggested that 20,000 bikes industry-wide is a more appropriate number.”
According to DDOT data, residents took more than 625,000 trips on dockless bikes and scooters since the program started in September and more than 55,000 used the vehicles in May.
Rachel Maisler, a member of the Bicycle Advisory Council, said she believes the demand for dockless bikes is “encouraging” and is glad to see DDOT making sidewalks more accessible for all people.
“But I sincerely encourage DDOT to pay attention to Wards 7 and 8,” Ms. Maisler said. “The bike infrastructure in Ward 7 and 8 should be as robust as other parts of D.C.”
Mr. Owens said DDOT will propose regulations to “require distribution of vehicles across all eight wards” and is installing 300 bike racks citywide over the next four months to create 600 new parking spots — a number much lower than riders’ demand.
• Julia Airey can be reached at jairey@washingtontimes.com.
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