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| DATE | 2020-11-02 |
| FROM | Ruben Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [Hangout - NYLXS] Who needs Seat Belts??
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New York City’s Electric-Scooter Market Gathers Speed
Paul Berger
6-7 minutes
Electric-scooter companies from around the world are expected to compete
for the chance to operate in New York City, one of the most sought-after
micro-mobility markets.
The city on Friday invited companies to apply for spots in an e-scooter
pilot program expected to launch in March. The 15-page request provided
few details about how many companies would be chosen, where they would
be allowed to operate or how many scooters would be deployed. But
competition is expected to be fierce in a market that has grown rapidly
in just a few years.
Companies of all sizes, some from overseas, said they intend to apply.
They included established U.S. firms Bird and Lime, two leading European
companies, Voi and TIER, and Superpedestrian, an up-and-coming
micro-mobility company founded out of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
New York City is seen as a prize because it has such a high
concentration of short-distance trips that might be considered too far
too walk but too short for mass transit, said Alex Engel, a spokesman
for the National Association of City Transportation Officials, a
coalition of North American transportation departments.
Last year, e-scooters leapfrogged above bike share to become the most
popular form of micro-mobility shared rides nationwide, with 86 million
of the country’s 136 million trips, according to Nacto data.
Maurice Henderson, senior director for government partnerships at Bird,
said more than a dozen companies participated in a recent discussion
with city officials about the forthcoming pilot in New York City. A
spokesman for the city’s transportation department said 25 companies had
already expressed interest in the program. “It’s the most coveted
market, just given the density and the sheer numbers,” said Paul Steely
White, director of public affairs at Superpedestrian.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has made street safety a priority during his
administration. However, preparation for the launch of the pilot program
coincides with a period in which the city is on track to record one of
its worst recent years for deaths on city streets. As of Oct. 20, the
city had recorded 192 deaths so far this year, the highest figure since
Mr. de Blasio assumed office in 2014.
Lime electric scooters parked in downtown Hoboken, N.J. The company is
looking to expand its fleet into New York City.
Photo: Claudio Papapietro for The Wall Street Journal
E-scooters have a mixed record in cities. Advocates and transportation
officials say scooter trips, which average about 1 mile, are a good
replacement for short car journeys and can help people access
mass-transit options that are a little too far to reach on foot.
But the scooters have been plagued by complaints of riders discarding
vehicles on sidewalks and private property, or driving recklessly. Some
recent studies have pointed to a high incidence of head and neck
injuries among riders.
Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner, speaking at a
council hearing on Tuesday, said e-scooters could help her department
achieve its equity and sustainability goals. “However, we must also
grapple with the complex policy and operational questions these systems
raise,” she said.
New York City, in its solicitation to companies, asked for details
regarding technologies the firms offer for parking and safety. The city
also solicited applications from firms that provide services to monitor
e-scooter companies, including trip-data aggregation and analysis,
scooter collection, and impound services.
Recent state legislation legalizing e-scooter programs prohibited their
use in Manhattan. The city’s Transportation Department said the pilot
will be limited to areas outside of those currently served by its docked
bike-share Citi Bike, which is concentrated in parts of the Bronx,
Queens and Brooklyn closest to Manhattan.
With such a crowded field, many of the scooter companies try to
distinguish themselves by touting higher safety standards or a more
collegial approach to working with cities.
Veo, a Chicago-based company with devices in more than 40 towns and
cities, markets the safety benefits of its scooters, which have
10.5-inch thick tires, front and rear suspension and turn signals.
Superpedestrian’s scooters have onboard sensors that detect loose cables
or faulty brakes, as well as a geofencing system that prevents scooters
from blocking sidewalks.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you excited or nervous about the potential arrival of electric
scooters in New York City? Join the conversation below.
Some advocates have criticized New York City for not taking advantage of
the coronavirus pandemic to devote more space to bikes, scooters and
pedestrians at the same time some people want to avoid mass transit.
Phil Jones, senior director for government relations at Lime, said he
believed New York had taken greater steps than some other cities and has
the potential to do more. “Even though it is taking small steps, it is
moving in the right direction and we think micro-mobility can help it
get there more quickly,“ he said.
Write to Paul Berger at Paul.Berger-at-wsj.com
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