E-Scooters Banned On Atlanta City Streets Beginning Friday Night

ATLANTA — Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has issued an order banning the use of e-scooters on city streets between 9 pm and 4 am. The no-ride zone takes effect Friday. The city's planning department has informed electric scooter and e-bike companies operating in Atlanta of the change in policy and requested that they disable devices during the No Ride Zone.

“It is evident that immediate action is necessary to keep Atlanta’s residents and visitors safe,” said Mayor Bottoms. “Sadly, we have seen a pattern in the recent and tragic fatalities involving scooters – they all occurred after sunset. Having a variety of mobility options is critical to any city, but safety must be our top priority. This nighttime ban, while we continue to develop further long-term measures, will ensure the safest street conditions for scooter riders, motorists, cyclists, those in wheelchairs and pedestrians.”

Bottoms' office said it is also working on plans to create safer, dedicated spaces for cyclists and scooter riders; a revised selection process allowing the city to choose a limited number of dockless vendors and enable the city to partner with selected vendors to run a safer, more orderly dockless system.

The expected selection process is anticipated to be completed by February 2020.

“As a major city, we believe there is potential in engineering the smart integration of this popular mode of transportation,” said Department of City Planning Commissioner Tim Keane. “The devices go a long way in providing last-mile connectivity and convenience to residents, students, businesses and visitors. But it is vital that we pause and assess how we move forward in a responsible way, with public safety always being the top priority.”

Read: New Scooter Regulations Coming At Atlanta City Council Meeting

On Monday, Bottoms introduced legislation to repeal the city planning department's ability to issue new permits for sharable dockless mobility devices.

And: No More Scooter Permits In Atlanta, Mayor Says