2 Companies Ask City to Participate in Scooter Program

A pair of companies have responded to a request for proposals to operate a scooter program in Omaha for as long as four years, starting this year.

Spin and Lime both responded to the 2021 request for proposal.

The two pilots studied demand, safety, parking, costs and regulations for operators and riders.

Spin participated in the 2019 and 2020 pilots, while Lime participated in 2019. Bird participated in the 2020 pilot but did not submit a new proposal.

Park Omaha, which is the city’s Parking and Mobility Division has completed the 2020 pilot with a series of findings:

• In 2020, there were 36,283 rides with 76% occurring downtown, 16% in midtown, 6% in the Aksarben Villege area and 2% each in Benson and Dundee.

• In 2019, there were 208,847 rides with 72% occurring downtown, 16% in midtown, 10% in Aksarben and 4% in Benson. Dundee wasn’t included in the initial pilot for scooters.

• The scooter program will expand to designated “equality zones” to promote mobility.

• The city will develop scooter charging infrastructure, a fee structure and a strategic mobility plan for downtown.

“Alternate modes of transportation are increasingly popular and important,” Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said in a statement. “Our two pilots have provided information and data that shows a demand for scooters for both recreation and transportation.”

After reviewing proposals from Spin and Lime, a recommendation will be sent to Stothert and the the City Council. The council will have to vote before the program is reauthorized.

To see the 2020 report, visit bit.ly/3ukZNdH.