Brookline's Electric Scooter Pilot Usage At 6 Months

BROOKLINE, MA — Since April there's likely not been a day when you haven't seen someone on an electric scooter out and about town. Six months ago when the electric scooter pilot program started, all eyes were on the town and lauded in the lead up to the launch as the first pilot program of its kind in the state.

The pilot program started with e-scooter company Lime and Bird, then added Spin, a third company last month. The pilot will run into November.

Here's a look at usage according to the folks at Brookline's Transportation Division of the DPW:

• 127k+ trips
• 153k+ miles ridden
• 19k+ hours ridden
• 18.5k+ unique riders
• Average trip: 9 minutes, 1.2 miles

Reported Crashes:

• 6 via @BrooklineMAPD
• 4 via companies

Enforcement Activity:
517 documented stops of e-scooter users

Proponents say they're an affordable way to get around, provide a solution to people who are a mile away from public transportation, and are environmentally friendly. Bird did a community survey end of May and found that 73 percent of respondents were using it to commute, as opposed to fun. Some 21 percent said they would have driven a car if an e-scooter wasn't available.

Electric scooters are powered exclusively by an electric motor and in Brookline companies are required to cap the maximum speed at 15 MPH. The scooters all have front and rear and brake lights. There have been two crashes involving a scooter and a car and four crashes involving just the scooters, according to police data.

But it hasn't been without its critics.

A number of residents have bemoaned rule-breaking by the scooter riders, including children using them, although you must be 18 to ride them. People opposed to the scooters also say they've seen multiple people riding on the side walk or without helmets, which is also against the regulations. Others complain that some people leave scooters in the middle of, rather than to the side of, the sidewalk, thereby making it difficult for pedestrians in some spots.

Transportation Director Todd Kirrane told the Select Board earlier this year that he took several recommendations for the program based on feedback his office received from the public, including implementing more enforcement of rules by having the police department hire a full time bike/e-scooter enforcement and education officer.

Kirrane said the transportation staff met with Brookline Schools, drafted a letter informing parents outlining that underage children were not permitted to ride scooters. Some parents replied saying they trusted their 16-year-olds to jump on a scooter to go to after school activities.

Previously:

Electric Scooter Pilot To Include Another Company

• Electric Scooter Pilot To Start In Brookline
• Rider Injured As E-Scooters Launch In Massachusetts
• E-scooter diary: Brookline should set the standard for safety
• As Complaints Mount, Scooter Lessons At Coolidge Corner

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).