As Complaints Mount, Scooter Lessons At Coolidge Corner School

BROOKLINE, MA — As part of a way to educate riders in town, electric scooter company Lime will run a "First Ride Academy" two Saturdays a month. This way, potential riders can learn how to operate the scooters in a controlled environment before heading off on their own.

This is a step beyond the "ride around the block" sessions the company has previously offered for folks curious to test one out. The company made a "commitment" to educate riders as best as they could but this specific program is one they say they are putting on because they wanted to do more hands on training.

First Ride Academy is a series of 60-minute, free weekend training courses as part of an effort to help Brookline riders get to know the basics of safe scooter riding and responsible parking. It comes as a number of people on social media have complained that scooter riders are not being safe and parking irresponsibly.

The courses will be held at the Coolidge Corner School at 11 a.m. two Saturdays a month. The next course is July 27, and they'll run through September 21.

It's a 60-minute class divided into three parts, each focused on a different aspect of electric scooter use, according to the invitation.

1. Training on how to use the app and familiarize riders with the company's"core values"
2. Training on how to inspect the scooters before riding and how to ride, along with safety exercises
3. Then teachers will take the class on a course for a guided ride in a public setting to help teach intuition.

Riders must be 18 years or older to participate, and you can bring your own helmet or Lime will have a few you can wear. The company is asking folks to RSVP, as they won't accept walk-ins.

The pilot program, which involves e-scooter company Lime and Bird, and may include a third company shortly, began in April and will run into November. Although it was lauded in the lead up to the launch as the first pilot program of its kind in the state, it hasn't been without its critics.

A number of residents have bemoaned the fact they've seen children riding the scooters, 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, rather to the side, of the sidewalk, thereby making it difficult for pedestrians in some spots.

But proponents say they're a great way to get around and are environmentally friendly.

Electric scooters are powered exclusively by an electric motor and in Brookline companies are required to cap the maximum speed at 15 MPH.

In the first two months, Lime scooters were wildly popular with riders. The company said Brookline riders logged some 52,000 trips, treking more than 50,000 miles. The average trip was under a mile and took about 9 minutes.

The town will conduct an evaluation after November 15, about whether the scooters have a long-term role in Brookline.

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• Rider Injured As E-Scooters Launch In Massachusetts

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).