Scooters Are Coming To Minneapolis, Again

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The city of Minneapolis has entered in to license agreements with two operators —Bird and Lyft — to launch shared motorized foot scooters for 2020.

Unlike in 2019, the city does not have an agreement with the JUMP, Spin and Lime scooter companies.

Scooter riders must follow the same traffic laws as bicyclists, as regulated by state law, according to the city. Scooters can’t be ridden on sidewalks.

New this year, scooters must be locked to a public bike rack or municipal signpost (except bus stop and stop signs), or parked in designated scooter parking zones when not in use.

Under the program, the number of scooters allowed in the city is capped at 2,500 to be divided evenly among the operators. A maximum of 1,000 scooters are allowed downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, and "at least 750 scooters must be distributed in areas of concentrated poverty in north, northeast and south Minneapolis," according to a news release.

The program runs through March 31, 2021.

Beyond the scooter distribution requirements, operators are required to have low-income pricing programs and alternative access options for people who don’t have smartphones or require a cash payment option.

They are also required to have ongoing education and outreach on safe riding and proper parking behavior, as well as the previously mentioned equitable pricing and access initiatives.