Weather Puts Brakes On Brookline E-Scooters

BROOKLINE, MA — If you're noticing fewer people riding electric scooters Tuesday or Wednesday, that's because the Town of Brookline's transportation department has ordered Bird, Lime and Spin not to deploy those two days because of expected weather conditions and temperatures.

Forecasters are expecting some brief snow Tuesday afternoon and evening before a strong cold front plunges the region into a deep freeze overnight into Wednesday.

A Lime spokesperson said it's case by case when it comes to removing their bikes or scooters from the roads. But typically they pull bikes and scooters off the roads when it looks set to snow, in part to help keep the areas clear for municipalities to do whatever snow removal they might need to do, and in part for safety reasons.

"We normally work with communities to figure out when that is. In this case, Brookline asked us to pull the scooters because of the impending weather, so we're doing so," a Lime spokesperson told Patch.

The town is recommending folks who depend on the scooters - and thousands do - to hit up other modes of transportation that doesn't involve a single occupant car.

Patch has reached out to the Transportation Department Officials for comment.

The town was the first in the region to start a pilot program to test whether to bring electric scooters to Brookline permanently. It began with e-scooter company Lime and Bird, then added Spin, a third company in August. The pilot was set to run until the end of this week.

Last month a survey put together by Lime found that since the pilot program began, the three companies scooters have saved thousands of car trips from happening.

Brookline has also put together an E-Scooter Pilot Program Evaluation Survey and is asking folks - whether they've taken one of the scooters for a ride or not - to weigh in.

The scooter program has been eyed by Boston and surrounding communities, as the state works to come up with regulations.

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.

In response, Brookline Transportation Officials have instituted parking corrals, asked the companies to make adjustments and asked the police department to enforce regulations.

Read more:

Electric Scooters In Brookline Saved 50K Car Trips: According To Lime

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).