South Lake Tahoe to create an ordinance for electric scooters

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - First it was Lime Bikes, but now the company's Lime Scooters have created both enjoyment and concern in South Lake Tahoe. The popular mode of transportation is used by millions worldwide and provides over 100,000 annual rides in South Lake Tahoe.

But the illegal use by minors and a flaw in the Lime app process has drawn concern from local law enforcement and residents.

Police Chief Brian Uhler told the South Lake Tahoe City Council that he was impacted by the incident on June 9, 2019, when an 11-year-old girl on the rented electronic scooter was hit by a car in front of McDonald's. "Her face will be altered for the rest of her life," he said.

Shortly after that incident, a 13-year-old boy was hit on a Lime scooter on Lake Tahoe Boulevard and flown to Renown Hospital in Reno with a head injury. "That was a second close call," the Chief said.

Uhler said he tested out the popular mode of transportation seven weeks after Lime signed an agreement with the City of South Lake Tahoe, one where Lime said there could be only one scooter rented per identification and credit card, and one that said a there would be a "geo-fence" around the heavy traffic areas of Heavenly Village and Lakeview Commons.

His test allowed him to rent two scooters with one ID and one credit card and he and SLTPD Lt. David Stevenson were able to drive full-speed at the Heavenly Village.

Uhler's story was presented in front of the Council who is looking into a formal electronic shared mobility device ordinance for 2020 and beyond.

"As your chief, I ask myself, 'What if that boy died?'," Uhler told the Council. "How would the community have responded? If Lime had complied we wouldn’t be before Council."

Lime representatives at the meeting said there are challenges with the signals to the scooters via the internet in South Lake Tahoe. The geo-fence (which sends a message via GPS to the scooter) doesn't always work due to tall buildings at the Marriot, the inconsistent internet. Many users start their scooter ride within 100 meters of the endpoint in the Stateline area, and this leads to mis-messaging by the system as well. Scooters are on 3G so don't receive the slow-down signal in geo-fenced areas, Lime said.

California State Law changed and, beginning in 2019, adults riding scooters on the streets or bike paths did not have to wear a helmet. Minors still have to wear them, but with local rules the shouldn't be on them at all. Lime and the City created a set of rules that prohibited those under the age of 18 from riding a scooter and all must have a driver's license. But, as anyone who watched this past summer knows, kids under 18 were on the Lime Scooters.

As the dockless scooters continue to grow in popularity and expand into new markets, many cities are trying to create a set of rules or ordinances to make the activity of riding them a safer experience.

Consumer Reports (CR) did a survey this summer and consistently found that users of the scooters were unsure of what traffic laws they should follow. "CR investigation—which tabulated injuries from 110 hospitals in 47 U.S. cities—found that at least 1,500 riders had been injured since e-scooters were introduced in late 2017, and there were four fatalities. Since then, CR has identified an additional four deaths," the said in here story (HERE).

They also found California laws force the scooters onto streets, but streets aren’t prepared to accommodate them.

Lime said during the meeting that they share both Uhler's and City Manager Frank Rush's priorities in addressing underage users and speed at both Heavenly Village and Lakeview Commons, both areas that are supposed to have geo-fencing and reduced speed.

"No single piece of these problems is foolproof," they said. Lime said they want to work collaboratively in moving forward in making the scooter that has 15 million users worldwide successful and safe in South Lake Tahoe.

Oliver Stone, a local businessman who was the first person to be granted a license to operate a cannabis microbusiness in South Lake Tahoe under the new ordinance, spoke up during the meeting. He was concerned about the disparity between the strict safety regulations around his industry and the lack of safety regulations surrounding e-scooters.

"Lime has taken no initiative to make them safer," said Stone. "Multiple near misses on mechanical menaces."

He said cannabis has been marked as impacting the community so those in the business have to pay hefty fees and taxes.

"Lime is activating without impunity or revenue sharing," said Stone of the cannabis businesses have to do both. He suggested e-scooter businesses respond to an RFP (Request for Proposal).

Councilwoman Tamara Wallace said Stone made an "incredibly valid point," one that she agreed with as "Lime is immensely more impactful than cannabis."

Dreu Murin of the Heavenly Village told the Council that since the Village is one of the "most highly trafficked areas" they need to make it a "no-scooter zone" He said the guest experience (both locals and visitors) is affected by the scooters. Murin said he appreciated the Chief addressing the issue of safety.

The City Council is not talking about a ban of the devices as other markets have done, but have directed Staff to start working on a "Shared Mobility Device Ordinance" that addresses safety concerns. It is possible the ordinance can be before the Council at their next meeting at 9:00 a.m. on November 5 for a First Reading. The agenda has not yet been approved and will be released on Thursday, October 31.