Agenda

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Item # 5.

Work Session and Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:	11/27/2018
Department:	Public Works
Pillars:	Excellence in Transportation Systems

AGENDA CAPTION:

Present and Discuss Strategies for Regulating Dockless Vehicles Including Bikeshare and Electric Scootershare Programs in Addison.

BACKGROUND:

Over the last several years, bike sharing and scooter sharing programs have increased in popularity. These businesses allow people to rent bikes and scooters for short one-way trips. Many cities have embraced these vehicles as part of a comprehensive mobility strategy to move people through the city using alternative modes of transportation. Bike sharing and scooter sharing are often seen as part of the solution to increase public transit use by providing options for getting to and from the transit stop, a topic commonly referred to as first mile/last mile issues.

In 2016, the Town updated the Master Transportation Plan. During the update process, the Town solicited input regarding alternative modes of transportation. The vast majority of responses indicated that people do not currently ride bikes, but the top reason for why was that people do not own a bike. 47% indicated that they would ride frequently or occasionally with better biking accommodations. Additionally, with the impending service on the Cotton Belt Regional Rail Line, the Town has been discussing strategies for moving people from the rail station out further into the community. Bike sharing and scooter sharing could play a role in doing so.

There are two models for bike sharing and scooter sharing. One uses a series of docking stations placed at fixed locations throughout the city where the vehicles can be retrieved from and returned to. As technology has evolved, there are now dockless systems where vehicles can be left anywhere and unlocked using a smartphone app. Generally, the industry is moving towards the dockless model.

While these vehicles address mobility issues, history has shown that dockless vehicles, in particular, can lead to problems without proper oversight. Many cities have responded by enacting ordinances to either ban their use in the Right-of-Way or regulate their use in some way. During the Work Session, staff will present additional background on bike sharing and scooter sharing programs, provide an overview on how other cities are regulating dockless vehicles, and request direction from Council on how Addison should regulate dockless vehicles.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff requests direction from Council.

Attachments
Presentation - Dockless Vehicle Regulations