E-Scooter Sidewalk Riding Banned In Revised Alexandria Program

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria City Council voted Saturday, Dec. 14 to launch a phase two pilot program regulating dockless mobility devices, more commonly known as e-scooters. The phase two program takes effect from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020.

A major change coming will be a sidewalk riding ban throughout the city. Council opted to ban scooter riding on sidewalks completely, although staff had recommended a ban in part of Old Town and all of Mount Vernon Avenue. The pilot program sets the speed limit to 15 mph in the street.

The issue of sidewalk riding drew mixed reactions from residents speaking at the meeting. Old Town Civic Association President Steve Milone and Commission On Aging representative Alan Dinsmore highlighted hazards of scooters to pedestrians on sidewalks. A Del Ray resident regularly using scooters voiced concerns about banning sidewalk riding, citing potholes, rush hour traffic and the occasional aggressive driver on Mount Vernon Avenue.

Scooters may be parked on sidewalks, although the city has designated parking areas in some places. The installation of parking corrals under the current pilot program has addressed resident concerns about improper scooter parking. Staff are considering adding more parking corrals but will evaluate high usage areas before scooter usage increases in the spring. The current parking corral locations are in Old Town, and talks are underway for potential additions in Del Ray, Carlyle and Potomac Yard.

The new pilot program gives the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities authority to ban scooter riding on soft surface trails and public parks using signage. In addition, the city has "geofenced" areas where scooters cannot be parked at the King Street Metro Station area under construction, Market Square, City Marina, Founders Park and Waterfront Park.

The new program also addresses equity by designating specific percentages of devices to deploy to underserved areas. The area west of Quaker Lane and east of I-395 would get 15 percent of deployed devices, the area west of I-395 would get 10 percent, and Arlandria would get 5 percent.

Companies allowed to deploy scooters in Alexandria will be required to pay new permit fees and sign a modified Memorandum of Understanding under the new pilot program. Council also directed the city manager to appoint an Ad-Hoc Scooter Task Force for the phase two pilot program. Staff will be evaluating how to make the pilot program permanent during the phase two time period.

Surrounding jurisdictions like Fairfax County and Falls Church are also adopting e-scooter pilot programs due to new state legislation. Under a new Virginia law, e-scooters would be allowed without regulations starting Jan. 1, 2020 if local jurisdictions don't set their own regulation programs.

For more on the city's e-scooter program, visit www.alexandriava.gov/DocklessMobility.