Point Pleasant Beach Looking To Bring In Electric Scooters

POINT PLEASANT – Point Pleasant Beach is requesting proposals for a potential electric scooter program in the borough.

Mayor Paul Kanitra said a scooter company, Bird Scooters, approached Council President Arlene Testa about bringing a program to the borough.

Mayor Kanitra has used these types of scooters before and feels that they could benefit the town.

“I have used Birds and other scooters in DC many, many times and know firsthand how convenient they are and how they help to reduce traffic,” Kanitra said.

“They launched a new program for smaller municipalities and believed Point Pleasant Beach would be a great partner.”

With the borough trolley not running this summer, Kanitra believes that this could be a good way to counterbalance that but. But before that, he said, there are certain things the borough needs to determine.

“The borough is looking for revenue share, a short-term contract with flexibility in case we’re not satisfied, and a host of technological components like GPS 'fencing' to prevent the scooters from being used in unauthorized places like the Boardwalk and Route 35,” Kanitra said.

“Without the trolley operating this year, we are in need of an important transportation bridge between downtown and the Beach area. We’re looking forward to getting responses back and moving forward.”